Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the Sera of Patients with Graves' Disease: Correlation with Disease Activity and Treatment Status

Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), a ligand for lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), plays an important role in a variety of immune-mediated mechanisms such as lymphocyte attachment to cultured Graves' thyroid cells. We report the detection of a soluble form of the ICAM-1 molecule (sICAM-1) in sera from patients with Graves' disease (GD) and other thyroid disorders. The mean (±SD) sICAM-1 concentration in 28 euthyroid control subjects was 1931 ± 681 pmol/L. The mean sICAM-1 concentration in 25 untreated hyperthyroid patients with GD was significantly elevated (3065 ± 890 pmol/L), and decreased significantly (2489 ± 845 pmol/L) after treatment with antithyroid drugs and/or 131I. Of 14 GD patients who had been in remission following administration of antithyroid drugs, 12 had recurrent disease. In 10 of the 12 patients in whom GD recurred, the sICAM-1 concentration (3807 ± 796 pmol/L) increased significantly. The mean sICAM-1 concentration in patients with hypothyroidism due to chronic t...