title: Systemic levels of the endothelium-derived soluble adhesion molecules endocan and E-selectin in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis.
abstract: The initial evaluation of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis includes the use of biomarkers reflecting activation of the coagulation system. However, the thromboembolic process and neighboring inflammatory responses also affect endothelial cells, and endothelial cell markers may therefore be altered by the disease. In the present population-based single-center study, we investigated the plasma levels of the endothelium-specific biomarkers soluble E-selectin and endocan in a consecutive and unselected group of 120 patients admitted to hospital for suspected deep vein thrombosis. Blood samples were collected when patients arrived at the hospital. DVT patients showed evidence for an acute phase reaction with increased serum C-reactive protein levels, but this was similar to many other patients admitted with suspected but not verified thrombosis. Plasma endocan and E-selectin levels did not differ between patients with thrombosis, healthy controls and the patients without verified thrombosis (i.e. patients with other causes of their symptoms, including various inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions). However, the combined use of endothelial biomarkers, C-reactive protein and D-dimer could be used to identify patient subsets with different frequencies of venous thrombosis. Thus, analysis of plasma biomarker profiles including endothelial cell markers may be helpful in the initial evaluation of patients with deep vein thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Science, Section of Hematology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Knut Anders
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mosevoll
authors.affiliation: Section for Hematology, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Roald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindås
authors.affiliation: Section for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Oystein
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wendelbo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Science, Section of Hematology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway ; Section for Hematology, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Oystein
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bruserud
authors.affiliation: Section for Hematology, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Håkon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reikvam
keywords: Adhesion molecules; Cytokines; Deep venous thrombosis; Matrix metalloproteases; Venous thromboembolism