Adhesion Molecules as Markers of Clinical Severity in Stable Angina

The relationship between coronary artery disease and adhesion molecules has been investigated, but the clinical significance of adhesion markers is not clear. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between soluble adhesion molecules and clinical severity of stable angina. Fifty-six patients with stable angina with confirmed coronary artery disease, by coronary angiography and electrocardiography during their episodes of chest pain, were enrolled. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin were measured, and the relationship between adhesion molecule levels and cardiac events during the follow-up period (6 months) was evaluated. Cardiac events included non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary angioplasty), and death of any cause. Serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (623 ± 131 ng/ml), and E-selectin (65 ± 26 ng/ml) were higher in the 8 patients with cardiac events than the 48 patients without cardiac events (551 ± 137, and 44 ± 21 ng/ml, respectively). There was no difference in intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels between patients with cardiac events and those without (307 ± 133, and 246 ± 123 ng/ml). In conclusion, the risk of cardiac events is increased in patients with stable angina who have increased levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin.