SAT0110 Soluble adhesion molecules (icam-1, vcam-1, e-selectin, p-selectin) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and childhood – onset scleroderma

Background The soluble forms of adhesion molecules (sAM) may have a regulatory function in inflammatory responses and may serve as useful markers of both leukocyte and endothelial cells activation in different diseases, including several autoimmune disorders. They have been studied in adults with certain rheumatic diseases while studies in paediatric patients are more limited. Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the levels of sAM in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and scleroderma and to correlate serum levels of these molecules with conventional inflammatory parameters and to determine differences in these levels among clinical subtypes of JIA. Methods Soluble forms of AM ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin were measured by sandwich ELISA in 47 children with JIA, (24 pauciarticular, 7 polyarticular, 16 systemic) and 11 patients with scleroderma. The levels of sAM according to type of disease, JIA type and some inflammatory parameters (ESR, total white blood cell count-WBC, platelet count) were analysed. Results Differences in serum levels of sAM have been demonstrated among the 3 subtypes of JIA. The highest values were seen in patients with systemic disease, lower values in patients with polyarthritis and pauciarticular form. The statistically significant higher levels of sICAM-1 (p Conclusion The preliminary results indicate the role of sVCAM-1 in the pathogenesis of childhood-onset scleroderma and confirm the differences between subtypes of JIA and suggest that sICAM-1 and sE-selectin may be another useful tool of monitoring the activity of systemic JIA.