[Circulating adhesion molecules (cICAM-1, lcVCAM-1) in XXXX with suspected inflammatory @entity299 ].

@entity1 @entity32 @entity712 @entity4725 @entity174 @entity2617 @entity299 @entity2071
Some @entity1 with non-ischemic @entity712 show inflammatory changes in the myocardium which are thought to be of causal or pathogenetic relevance for the @entity712 . The @entity2071 ( @entity2071 ) and the @entity4725 ( @entity4725 ) are membrane proteins with receptor function from the immunoglobulin superfamily which mediate the vascular adhesion and transmigration of leucocytes into the tissue and undergo increased expression in chronic immunological-inflammatory processes. In addition to membrane-bound adhesion molecules, soluble forms can be detected in serum. In the present study we investigated the occurrence and the significance of circulating @entity2071 and @entity4725 in 71 @entity1 with non-ischemic @entity712 (47 M/24 F, mean age: 55 +/- 11 years). METHODS: Serum concentrations of cICAM-1 and cVCAM-1 were analyzed using ELISA-Kits. The severity of @entity712 was assessed in accordance to the NYHA-classification and to hemodynamic parameters (mean pulmonary pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction). @entity299 was assessed histologically and immunohistologically (T-lymphocytes > 7.0/mm2, increased expression of the histocompatibility antigens of class I and II) in right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies. 16 healthy, age-matched @entity1 (8 M/8 F, mean age: 55 +/- 6 years, mean ejection fraction 76 +/- 3%) without signs of @entity32 in the myocardium (mean T-lymphocytes < 3.5 cells/mm2, low expression of HLA-class I and II) served as controls. RESULTS: The mean serum concentrations of circulating @entity2071 and @entity4725 (cICAM-1, cVCAM-1) were higher in @entity1 with non-ischemic @entity712 (372 +/- 107 ng/ml and 949 +/- 439 ng/ml) than controls (264 +/- 37 and 710 +/- 164 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). The mean concentrations of both adhesion molecules varied as a function of the mean pulmonary pressure and the left ventricular ejection @entity174 (for cICAM-1: Pearson's r: 0.24 and -0.33, p < 0.05; for cVCAM-1: Pearson's r: 0.28 and -0.26, p < 0.05). In 38% (n = 16) of @entity1 with elevated concentrations of cICAM-1 (> or = 337 ng/ml) and 41% (n = 7) of those with elevated serum levels of cVCAM-1 (> or = 1038 ng/ml), the myocardial biopsies showed @entity2617 between 7 and 22 T-lymphocytes/mm2 and an enhanced expression of the MHC antigens of class I/II as sign of an activated inflammatory process in the myocardium. All @entity1 with more than 9.3 T-lymphocytes/mm2 in the myocardium (n = 7) had higher serum levels of cICAM-1 (447 +/- 146 ng/ml, p < 0.05 compared to controls) and of cVCAM-1 (1577 +/- 688 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Both adhesion molecules correlated significantly with the mean number of T-lymphocytes in the myocardium (Pearson's r: 0.31-0.37, p < 0.05). SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the elevated levels of cICAM-1 and cVCAM-1 are often found in the serum of @entity1 with non-ischemic @entity712 . These raised serum levels correlate with inflammatory infiltrates in the myocardial tissue and with the clinical and hemodynamic signs of @entity712 , thus, confirming a connection between @entity712 and inflammatory changes in the myocardium.
