Circulating intercellular adhesion molecules-1 and autoantibodies including anti-endothelial cell, anti-cardiolipin, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasma antibodies in patients with vasculitis.

Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and 3 types of autoantibodies were measured in 30 patients with angiographical or pathological proved vasculitis. There were 18 patients with systemic vasculitis and 12 patients with cutaneous vasculitis. The measured antibodies included anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA), anti-cardiolipin (ACL) antibodies of 3 isotypes and anti-neutrophil cytoplasma antibodies (ANCA). The results showed that patients with systemic vasculitis had elevated levels of ICAM-1, AECA and IgG isotype antibody as compared with none or lower in patients with cutaneous vasculitis. Levels of ICAM-1 and IgG isotype ACL antibodies also decreased significantly after disease activity subsided in patients with systemic vasculitis. Measurement of ICAM-1 and autoantibodies may be useful in evaluating the extent of involvement and in following the disease activity of patients with vasculitis.