title: Soluble cell adhesion molecules--P-selectin and ICAM-1, and disease activity in patients receiving sulphasalazine for active rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to examine soluble cell adhesion molecules before and after sulphasalazine (SSZ) therapy in active RA. Assessment of RA patients (n = 13) was undertaken before and after 3 months of SSZ. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sP- and sE-selectin were measured using an ELISA. The mean (+/-SEM) C-reactive protein (CRP) and sP-selectin levels were significantly reduced from 3.9(0.89) to 2.01(0.53) mg/dl and from 332.8 (48.2) to 116.2 (11.1) respectively, after 3 months of SSZ. The sICAM-1 and sP-selectin levels were significantly higher in RA patients at baseline and a reduction occurred of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin levels, however this was not significant. The fall in mean (SEM) sICAM-1, from 345.0 (29.8) to 333.5 (30.2), correlated with the change in CRP (r=0.66; p = 0.018), but the fall in sP-selectin did not. SSZ therapy reduced sP-selectin and sICAM-1 levels in active RA, sICAM-1 correlates with disease activity. SSZ may reduce platelet and/or endothelial activity in RA which may be a useful marker of response, however studies of longer duration and more patients are required.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Veale
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maple
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McLaren
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Belch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D019007:P-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D012460:Sulfasalazine