RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Celiac disease (CD) is a systemic immune disorder. We assessed serum levels of adhesion molecules as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in patients with CD at first diagnosis and in those on a gluten-free diet. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with CD (mean age 6.74â±â4.6 years) and 51 age- and sex-matched control patients participated in the present case-controlled, prospective clinical study. Serum levels of vascular adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, endothelial selectin, vascular endothelial cadherin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and homocysteine levels were measured. RESULTS: Average soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (CD vs control group: 1320â±â308 vs 1120â±â406âng/mL, Pâ=â0.006), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (336â±â99 vs 263â±â67âng/mL, Pâ=â0.025), and soluble endothelial selectin (113.9â±â70 vs 76.9â±â32âng/mL, Pâ=â0.007) levels were significantly higher in cases of newly diagnosed CD than in the control group. Soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (1050â±â190âng/mL) and soluble endothelial selectin (68.7â±â45âng/mL) levels in patients with CD, who were fully compliant with a gluten-free diet, were significantly lower than that in those newly diagnosed as having CD (Pâ=â0.003 and Pâ=â0.0012, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that serum adhesion molecule levels are higher in patients with CD. Some of the risks associated with endothelial dysfunction may be related to CD and these risks can be reduced with an appropriate and fully controlled diet.
