The blood concentration of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in patients with active thyroid-associated orbitopathy before and after methylprednisolone treatment.
BACKGROUND
The soluble forms of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) have been found to be increased in the blood of patients with Graves disease. The aim of this study is evaluation of the serum concentrations of soluble forms of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) before and after methylprednisolone treatment.


METHODS
The study was performed in 40 Graves disease, hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients with a clinically active form of TAO. Serum concentrations of sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 in TAO patients were determined by enzymelinked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) before and after intensive pulse methylprednisolone treatment.


RESULTS
We did not find any significant changes in the studied parameters between TAO patients with hyperthyroidism and those with euthyroidism. The serum concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly increased in patients with TAO before methylprednisolone therapy when compared with the control group. After treatment serum concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 decreased significantly but were still significantly higher than for the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
From the results obtained we can conclude that Graves orbitopathy itself but not thyroid function is probably responsible for the elevated level of the adhesion molecules studied.
Nowak
Mariusz
M
Department of Pathophysiology and Endocrinology Medical University of Silesia, Poland. nowak-mar@wp.pl
Wielkoszyński
Tomasz
T
Kos-Kudła
Beata
B
Marek
Bogdan
B
Karpe
Jacek
J
Kajdaniuk
Dariusz
D
Siemińska
Lucyna
L
Głogowska-Szelag
Joanna
J
Foltyn
Wanda
W
Strzelczyk
Janusz
J
Nowak
Katarzyna
K
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D008775:Methylprednisolone