title: Soluble E-cadherin concentrations in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome.
abstract: We have assessed the role of the cell-cell adhesion molecule, E-cadherin, in the pathogenesis of multiorgan failure in 24 intensive care patients with sepsis and varying degrees of organ dysfunction, compared with 21 healthy subjects. Plasma soluble E-cadherin (sE-cadherin) was measured by enzyme immunoassay. The median concentration of sE-cadherin in normal subjects was 3.21 micrograms ml-1 compared with 6.00 micrograms ml-1 in patients with sepsis and organ dysfunction (P = 0.0019). There was no statistically significant difference in concentrations of sE-cadherin in survivors compared with non-survivors. Concentrations of sE-cadherin tended to increase with the severity of organ failure. We conclude that sE-cadherin is increased in inflammation and injury, and may be related to the degree of multiorgan failure after sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, St James's University Hospital Trust, Leeds.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pittard
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Galley
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000097:blood*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins