Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 serum level in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries (syndrome X).
BACKGROUND
Plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mediators of leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium may implicate in the pathogenesis of the syndrome of chest pain with normal coronary arteries.


OBJECTIVE
We attempted to determine whether markers of endothelial activation are raised in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries.


METHODS
We measured plasma VCAM-1, ICAM-1 (ng/ ml) in 36 patients (34 men, 2 women, aged 62 +/- 9 years) with stable angina, coronary artery disease (CAD), and a positive response to exercise test; in 21 patients (6 men, 15 women, aged 56 +/- 9 years) with chest pain and normal coronary arteriograms (syndrome X); and in 11 healthy control subjects (8 men, 3 women, aged 49 +/- 14 years).


RESULTS
Plasma ICAM-1 levels were significantly higher both in patients with CAD (mean +/- standard error of the mean) (328 +/- 26, p < 0.05), and in syndrome X (362 +/- 22, p < 0.01) than in controls (225 +/- 29). VCAM-1 levels were also higher in syndrome X (656 +/- 42 ng/ml) and in patients with CAD (626 +/- 42 ng/ml) than in controls (551 +/- 60, p = 0.09).


CONCLUSIONS
ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels are increased both in patients with CAD and with syndrome X compared with control individuals. These findings may suggest the presence of chronic inflammation with involvement of the endothelium in patients with anginal chest pain and normal coronary angiograms.
Tousoulis
D
D
Cardiology Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK.
Davies
G J
GJ
Asimakopoulos
G
G
Homaei
H
H
Zouridakis
E
E
Ahmed
N
N
Kaski
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D017566:Microvascular Angina / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1