Elevated soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in the serum of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica: influence of steroid treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the levels of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and/or giant cell arteritis (GCA) prior and during steroid therapy.


METHODS
Sixteen patients with PMR and/or GCA had complete clinical and laboratory investigations at diagnosis before treatment and 9 patients were followed during 6 months of steroid therapy. Serum sICAM-1 levels were measured by ELISA:


RESULTS
Serum ICAM-1 levels were higher in the patient group compared to a control population. No significant correlation was found between serum sICAM-1 levels and other indices of disease activity. After steroid administration, a dramatic fall in serum sICAM-1 levels was observed at the end of the first week and persisted until the end of the study period, paralleling clinical and laboratory disease remission.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum sICAM-1 levels paralleled disease activity in PMR and/or GCA. Steroid treatment induced a rapid normalization of the serum sICAM-1 levels.
2 Divisione di Medicina Interna (Unità Reumatologica), Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
P
P
Macchioni
L
L
Boiardi
R
R
Meliconi
C
C
Salvarani
M
M
Grazia Uguccioni
F
F
Rossi
L
L
Pulsatelli
A
A
Facchini
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone