Elevated soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in the serum of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica: influence of steroid treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the levels of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and/or giant cell arteritis (GCA) prior and during steroid therapy.

METHODS

Sixteen patients with PMR and/or GCA had complete clinical and laboratory investigations at diagnosis before treatment and 9 patients were followed during 6 months of steroid therapy. Serum sICAM-1 levels were measured by ELISA:

RESULTS

Serum ICAM-1 levels were higher in the patient group compared to a control population. No significant correlation was found between serum sICAM-1 levels and other indices of disease activity. After steroid administration, a dramatic fall in serum sICAM-1 levels was observed at the end of the first week and persisted until the end of the study period, paralleling clinical and laboratory disease remission.

CONCLUSION

Serum sICAM-1 levels paralleled disease activity in PMR and/or GCA. Steroid treatment induced a rapid normalization of the serum sICAM-1 levels.