title: VCAM-1 serum levels are associated with arthropathy in hereditary haemochromatosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the role of vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in patients with hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) with or without arthropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera from a large cross-sectional cohort of unselected HH patients (n=147) were obtained and compared to an age-matched and sex-matched control group. Serum levels of VCAM-1 were measured by ELISA and were correlated with clinical measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VCAM-1 serum levels were elevated in HH patients as compared to matched controls (mean 913±456 vs 654±451 ng/ml, p<0.0001). Within the HH patient group, VCAM-1 levels were much higher in patients with arthropathy and joint replacement surgery. VCAM-1 levels correlated well with radiographic measures of HH arthropathy (r=0.36, p<0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed a highly significant association of VCAM-1 serum levels and the presence of HH arthropathy, independent from diabetes, body mass index and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VCAM-1 serum levels emerge as a biomarker for haemochromatosis arthropathy.
authors.affiliation: 1st Medical Department, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at the Hanusch Hospital of WGKK and AUVA Trauma Centre Meidling, Hanusch Hospital, , Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nell-Duxneuner
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Axmann
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Husar-Memmer
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dallos
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Datz
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stadlmayr
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Englbrecht
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schett
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zwerina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
keywords: Epidemiology; Hand Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis