Soluble Markers of Leucocyte Adhesion in Patients with Venous Disease

Abstract

Objective:

To measure soluble CD54 (ICAM-1) and CD62E (E-selectin) as markers of neutrophil adhesion in four groups of patients with varying severity of venous disease and compare the values obtained with those in age- and sex-matched control subjects.

Design:

Prospective study of patients with varicose veins compared with a group of control subjects with no history or clinical findings of varicose veins.

Setting:

The Middlesex Hospital Vascular Laboratory, London.

Patients:

Patients referred to the Middlesex Hospital Vascular Laboratory for investigation of venous disease. Neither patients nor controls had arterial disease, any other systemic illness, or were on any medication known to alter white cell activity.

Interventions:

Ten millimetres of blood taken from an arm vein into EDTA for a neutrophil count and soluble CD54 and CD62E, measured using an ELISA.

Results:

Similar levels of soluble CD54 and CD62E were found in all four groups of patients compared with their controls (p = 0.71 for soluble CD54 for all patients compared with all controls, and p = 0.65 for soluble CD62E, Mann–Whitney U-test). There was no difference in the neutrophil count between the controls and patients in any group (p = 0.74 for all subjects, Mann–Whitney U-test).

Conclusion:

This study shows no evidence of increased soluble CD54 or CD2E or CD62E in patients with venous disease, despite previous work showing increased CD54 and neutrophil degranulation in patients with venous disease. The reason for this is currently unknown.