Circulating endothelium-related adhesion molecules in black South African patients with Graves' disease.

Elevated serum concentrations of endothelium-associated adhesion molecules occur in Graves' disease. However, no data exist in African subjects, among whom the incidence is rising. Therefore, 20 black South Africans with Graves' hyperthyroidism were evaluated and 10 healthy controls were also studied. Quantitative determinations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and soluble E-Selectin (sE-Selectin) were performed in serum samples by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mean levels of sVCAM-1 were significantly increased in the thyrotoxic patients compared to controls, but this did not apply to the other adhesion molecules. The presence of ophthalmopathy in 12 patients did not further increase the mean sVCAM-1 concentration, and the administration of antithyroid medication in 5 patients had no measurable effect. In conclusion, sVCAM-1 appears to be a useful marker of active Graves' disease in black South Africans although it does not seem to reflect the occurrence of eye involvement in such patients.