Serum level of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1)) on children with pulmanory hypertension

Serum Levels of Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 In Children With Pulmonary HypertensionEndothelial activation and vascular inflammation are thought to be the mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension. Increased expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and raised serum level of its soluble form (sICAM-1) are found in various conditions associated with endothelial activation.In this study it is aimed to investigate the reproducubility of ICAM-1 levels as biomarkers and the correlation of echocardiographic and catheter angiographic findings in patients with PAH.A total of 70 individuals composed of 30 patients with PAH, 20 patients having left to right shunt without PAH and 20 healthy controls have been included in the study. Detailed history, physical examination findings, anthropometric values, telecardiography, ECG, ECHO, catheter angiography and CBC values were recorded on previously designed patient forms. ICAM-1 levels in blood samples were measured by ELISA method.Fifteen patients (50%) with PAH were female and 15 (50%) were male with an age range of 12 months to 26 years whereas 12 (60%) of the patients having congenital heart diseases (CHD) were female and the rest 8 patients (40%) were male and their ages ranged between 2 months to 16 years. ICAM-1 levels of PAH patients were found to be higher than CHD patients and healthy controls (p<0,05). Comparison of the cyanotic and acyanotic patients in PAH group there was no significant difference between the sICAM-1 level of cyanotic and acyanotic subgroups. However sICAM-1 level was higher in cyanotic group than acyanotic group. It was shown that there were no correlation between the echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters and measured ICAM-1 levels in patients with PAH.It is concluded that elevated ICAM-1 levels in patients with PAH contributes to development of PAH together with other predisposing factors and therefore these biological markers could add some more data in diagnosing and monitoring of the treatment in PAH patients together with other routine tests. However, we think that reproducibility of these parameters are needed to be evaluated by means of large, multicentric and prospective studies.Key words: Pulmonary arterial hypertension, ICAM-1, congenital heart disease