Cireulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1] rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [C. ICAM-1] levels were measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay for sera collected from 29 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] as well as synovial fluid samples collected from 5 out of the 29 RA patients. Serum samples from 10 healthy persons were tested as a control group. The concentration of C3[c] complement component was also measured in the serum of patients with SLE by single RID technique and compared with its concentration in the control group. There was a significant increase [p<0.05] in the level of CICAM-1 in SLE patients compared with normal controls. In contrast, non significant increase was found in patients with RA. Levels of CICAM-1 was non significantly increased in synovial fluid compared with serum in paired samples from patients with RA. A highly significant increase in C. ICAM-1 levels was found in SLE patients [p<0.01] as compared to RA patients. Level of CICAM-1 correlated significantly with increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and decreased haemoglobin [Hb] level in SLE patients. There was significant positive correlation between C ICAM-1levels and joint score in patients with RA. Highly significant decrease in C3[c] complement component was found in SLE patients as compared to control group, but there was non significant correlation between CICAM-1 levels and C3[c] complement component levels in those patients. From the previous results, it was found that ICAM-1 could be used as a parameter of activity in patients with SLE and to less extent in patients with RA. Non significant difference was found in CICAM-1 levels in synovial fluid versus serum

Plasma C3c level in patients with type II diabetes mellitus with microabluminuria

The study included 10 NIDDM patients with microalbuminuria, 10 NIDDM patients and 10 age matched normal controls. All were subjected to clinical examination, E.C.G., biochemical assessment for blood sugar, total serum cholesterol, serum creatinine, and serum C3c. Results revealed significant lowering of serum C3c in diabetic patients with microalbuminuria than controls [M. 76.43 +/- 15 and 95.75 + 22.23, respectively] [p < 0.036] and non significant reduction in diabetic patients without microalbuminuria [M. 87.327 = 21.22 mg/dl] [p < 0.398]. There was an inverse correlation between plasma level of C3c and each of total serum cholesterol [p < 0.001], degree of microalbuminuria [p < 0.0001] and ischemic heart disease [p < 0.002]

Complement C3 levels in serum and ascitic fluid in liver cirrhosis

Serum and ascitic fluid complement C3 levels were estimated in 28 patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites and in 10 normal control subjects. Patients were divided into those with +ve ascitic fluid culture [22 patients] and those with -ve culture [6 patients]. Complement C3 serum level was significantly reduced in 28 patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites [P <0.05]. Serum complement C3 level was also reduced in patients who had +ve ascitic fluid culture [P <0.01]. There was also a significant decrease in serum complement C3 levels in 22 patients who had +ve ascitic fluid culture [P <0.05] and in ascitic fluid levels [P <0.0005] compared with those who had -ve culture