Levels of type IV collagen and laminin fragments in serum from patients with progressive systemic sclerosis.

Sera from patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) were studied using immuno-assays for laminin P1 fragment and the carboxyterminal NC1 domain from type IV collagen. Compared to healthy controls, patients with PSS showed elevated serum levels of both fragments derived from basement membrane proteins. However, there was no difference when patients with and without Raynaud's phenomenon were compared and no correlation could be established with the activity of the disease or clinically defined types of scleroderma. Our data indicate that the metabolism of basement membrane proteins is involved in the course of scleroderma; however, it remains questionable whether these assays could become useful as diagnostic or prognostic tools.