[Type IV collagen and laminin levels in the sera from patients with systemic scleroderma (PSS)]

Serum type IV collagen 7S and laminin P1 levels were measured with radioimmunoassay in 33 patients with systemic scleroderma (PSS), 6 localized scleroderma (LS), and one mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Serum type IV collagen 7S levels were higher in PSS (5.11 +/- 1.11 ng/ml:m +/- SD) and LS (4.68 +/- 0.46 ng/ml) than in normal controls (3.90 +/- 0.85 ng/ml) (p less than 0.001). Serum laminin P1 levels were also significantly higher in PSS (1.75 +/- 0.34 U/ml) and LS (1.38 +/- 0.20 U/ml) compared to the controls (1.19 +/- 0.16 U/ml) (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.01, respectively). A significant correlation between these two values in PSS was found (r = 0.465, p less than 0.02). These results suggest that the measurements of these values may serve as a marker of PSS.