title: Soluble thrombomodulin concentration is raised in scleroderma associated pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of thrombomodulin in scleroderma associated pulmonary hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), was measured in plasma samples from 34 scleroderma patients shown to have pulmonary hypertension at echocardiogram, and comparison drawn against samples from 38 scleroderma control patients, and 20 healthy controls. Serial measurements of sTM were performed in the 34 patients with scleroderma associated pulmonary hypertension to investigate possible changes in sTM concentration with progression of the condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean sTM was raised in scleroderma associated pulmonary hypertension when compared with scleroderma controls (mean sTM 65.4 ng/ml v 43.3 ng/ml, p<0.05), and when compared with healthy controls (mean sTM 38.1 ng/ml, p<0.05). There was no significant difference between mean sTM in scleroderma controls and healthy controls. Mean sTM concentration did not change with progression of pulmonary hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma sTM is raised in scleroderma associated pulmonary hypertension. The pathogenesis of scleroderma associated pulmonary hypertension may be distinct from the pathogenesis of other forms of pulmonary vascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Academic Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Disease Unit, The Royal Free Hospital, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stratton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pompon
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Coghlan
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D012995:Solubility; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018180:Thrombomodulin