Soluble cell adhesion molecules and parameters of lipoprotein metabolism in patients with severe burns.
BACKGROUND
The role of leukocyte adhesion molecules in patients with burns and their relationship to other parameters of inflammation and lipid metabolism is only recently beginning to be explored. Therefore, we investigated the temporal changes in the levels of soluble cell adhesion molecules and other parameters of inflammation and lipoprotein metabolism in patients with thermal injury.


METHODS
The serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and sE-selectin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen in seven patients with severe burns over a 30- day period were measured to determine the involvement of these factors in the pathophysiology of severe burns. Serum levels of slCAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin were determined by ELISA. Furthermore, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL chol), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL chol) and triglycerides (TG) were measured.


RESULTS
Blood levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, CRP and fibrinogen increased with maximum values six days after thermal injury. In contrast, serum levels of sE-selectin were elevated two days after thermal injury. The sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin levels correlated significantly with both the CRP and the fibrinogen levels. Plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decreased with minimum values four days after thermal injury. Furthermore, an increase of triglyceride levels was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed inflammatory response of soluble cell adhesion molecules could be useful in monitoring endothelial activation immediately following thermal injury. Further studies involving a larger number of patients with burns should help to clarify the extent to which measured parameters, especially the temporal changes ofsCAMs, could be relevant in assessing the morbidity ofpatients with thermal injury.
Rassoul
F
F
Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. rassf@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Richter
V
V
Kistner
C
C
Wisser
D
D
Reichert
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019040:E-Selectin; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein