Increase in plasma thrombomodulin level in patients with vibration syndrome

To determine whether endothelial cells are injured in vibration syndrome, we measured plasma levels of thrombomodulin (TM) in 100 patients with this syndrome using one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Plasma level of TM in patients with vibration syndrome was significantly higher than that in normal control (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the plasma TM level between patients with vibration syndrome and those with collagen disease. Plasma TM concentration in chain-saw operators was significantly higher than that in rock-drill operators (p < 0.05). Plasma TM value did not significantly differ between patients with vibration-induced white finger (VWF) and those without VWF. These results suggest that endothelial injury is present in patients with vibration syndrome, the degree of endothelial injury in patients with vibration syndrome equals that in patients with collagen disease, and the endothelial injury in chain-saw operators is greater than that in rock-drill operators. However, there was no difference in the degree of endothelial injury between patients with VWF and those without VWF.