SOLUBLE MARKERS OF LEUCOCYTE ADHESION IN PATIENTS WITH VENOUS DISEASE

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 pat...