[Serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with inflammatory myopathies]

Serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured by ELISA in patients with 18 inflammatory myopathies as well as 23 healthy controls. Both serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels were elevated in patients with active polymyositis. Serum sVCAM-1 levels were elevated in the active stage of dermatomyositis, while sICAM-1 levels were elevated only in patients with dermatomyositis complicated with interstitial pneumonia. In paired serum samples before and after prednisolone therapy, elevated serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels decreased in patients responding well to steroid therapy without complications. These findings suggested that soluble adhesion molecules reflect as the clinical activity of inflammatory myopathies.