title: Circulating adhesion molecules and arterial stiffness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 are two important members of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily of adhesion molecules, and their potential role as biomarkers of diagnosis, severity and prognosis of cardiovascular disease has been investigated in a number of clinical studies. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between circulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels and aortic stiffness in patients referred for echocardiographic examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aortic distensibility was determined by echocardiography using systolic and diastolic aortic diameters in 63 consecutive patients referred for echocardiography. Venous samples were collected in the morning after a 12-hour overnight fast, and serum concentrations of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured using commercial enzyme immunoassay kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data of a total of 63 participants (mean age 55.6 ± 10.5 years, 31 male) were included in the study. Circulating levels of adhesion molecules were VCAM-1: 12.604 ± 3.904 ng/ml and ICAM-1: 45.417 ± 31.429 ng/ml. We were unable to demonstrate any correlation between indices of aortic stiffness and VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of soluble adhesion molecules in cardiovascular disease has not been fully established and clinical studies show inconsistent results. Our results indicate that levels of circulating adhesion molecules cannot be used as markers of aortic stiffness in patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. idogukilic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cardiopulmonary Unit, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Findikoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Y I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Alihanoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Finike State Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uslu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemisty, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rota
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Evrengul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C573420:ICAM1 protein, human; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1