Serum level of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in patients with chronic liver disease related to hepatitis C virus: A prognostic marker for responses to interferon treatment.
Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is a marker of inflammation and tissue damage. Levels of soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) were measured in 71 patients with chronic C hepatitis treated with interferon (IFN)-alpha-2a, at baseline and at every 3 months of therapy, and in 42 normal control subjects. The levels of sICAM-1 were significantly higher in the patient than in the control subject group, particularly among cirrhotics. Baseline sICAM-1 levels were similar in responders and nonresponders. By contrast, the concentration of sICAM-1 decreased significantly only in responders during the first 3 months of therapy. The probability of response to treatment, analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis, was much higher in the group showing a decrease of sICAM-1 than in the patients who did not show such a decrease. In conclusion, a "longitudinal" evaluation of serum levels of sICAM-1 in the first period of treatment is particularly useful in the identification of patients with high significant probability of response to treatment.
Capra
F
F
Dipartimento di Medicina e Sanità Pubblica, Università di Verona, Medicina Interna A, Policlinico Borgo Roma, 37134 Verona, Italy. capra@cmib.univr.it
De Maria
E
E
Lunardi
C
C
Marchiori
L
L
Mezzelani
P
P
Beri
R
R
Gabrielli
G B
GB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D000410:Alanine Transaminase