Specific molecules including inflammatory
cell adhesion molecules mediate attachment of blood leukocyte and platelets to the endothelium and mononuclear cell migration into the arterial intima. However, the clinical significance of soluble
cell adhesion molecules very early in the course of
acute coronary syndrome is not known. We assayed
platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1, CD31),
intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54), and
P-selectin (CD62P) in plasma obtained from 20 patients within 3 h after the onset of acute
myocardial infarction (AMI); 16 patients with
unstable angina pectoris; 20 patients with
stable angina pectoris, and 28 controls. Blood samples were obtained on hospital admission and again 1 week after onset of AMI and
unstable angina, and on admission in patients with
stable angina and controls. Plasma
PECAM-1 concentration (ng/ml) on admission was higher in patients with AMI (25.6+/-4.7) and
unstable angina (24.7+/-4.4) than in
stable angina (20.5+/-4.4) and control (18.8+/-3.8) groups. In both AMI and
unstable angina, plasma
PECAM-1 had decreased significantly by 1 week (AMI, 20.8+/-4.0;
unstable angina, 21.0+/-4.1). Plasma
ICAM-1 concentration (ng/ml) on admission was higher in patients with AMI (254+/-70),
unstable angina (264+/-78), and
stable angina (245+/-68) than in controls (201+/-56), but did not differ between the three coronary syndromes. Plasma
P-selectin concentration did not differ between the four groups, including controls. Therefore, soluble
PECAM-1 concentration may be a sensitive markers providing early diagnostic aid in
acute coronary syndromes.