title: Type III collagen aminopropeptide levels in serum of patients with progressive systemic scleroderma.
abstract: Sera from 101 patients with progressive systemic scleroderma were analyzed for circulating aminopropeptides of type III collagen using a radioimmunoassay which measures the intact and degraded forms (Fab assay). About 41% of the patients were found to have values above the normal range. A good correlation was observed between elevated levels of aminopropeptides and the degree of involvement of the skin and internal organs in the patients. Most patients (89%) with an active progression of the disease but not those in a stationary phase showed increased serum levels of aminopropeptides. Treatment with corticosteroids apparently normalized the levels of aminopropeptides. Only minor changes were observed with an antibody-based radioimmunoassay which measures primarily the intact form of the aminopropeptide.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D002116:Calcitonin