Changes of Souble ICAM-1 Levels in Patients with Tsutsugamushi Disease / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: ICAM-1 has been shown to be required for leukocyte migration into inflammed area and plays a significant role in inflammatory disease including bronchial asthma, and various infectious disease such as tuberculosis and malaria. Although, the significance of soluble ICAM-1(sICAM-1) in rickettial disease has not been recognized. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the sICAM-1 levels in patients with tsutsugamushi disease, and the correlation factors between sICAM-1 level and subject characteristics including clinical and laboratory indices. METHODS: Eight normal controls and thirteen patients with tsutsugamushi disease underwent serum sampling for sICAM-1 level, which was measured by using ELISA kit. RESULTS: 1) sICAM-1 level is significantly elevated in patients group. 2) sICAM-1 level is a significantly correlation with AST level, titer of anti-tsutsugamushi antiboby, and leukocyte counts, but other factors such as age, sex, differential fraction of leukocyte, ALT, duration of fever, and total hospital day etc, are not. CONCLUSION: These results show that sICAM-1 may be a role in the pathogenesis of tsutsugamushi disease.