ICAM-1 as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease

Endothelial dysfunction has been considered as a main factor in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). The purpose of the study was to examine the endothelial function in patients suffering from stable CHD. Concentrations of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1.) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) by ELISA and nitric oxide (NO2-/NO3-) by colorimetric method were measured in serum or plasma of 28 men with angiographically documented CHD (mean age 51,2 6,0 years). Results were compared to obtained in 28 healthy male subjects (mean age 51,2 6,0 years), matched individually to the study group. Serum concentration of NO was lower in patients with CHD in comparison to control subjects (19,4 +/- 9,1 ng/ml vs. 25,6 +/- 10,7 ng/ml; p<0,05) whereas the serum concentration of sICAM-1 was higher in patients with CHD in comparison to control group (291,5 +/- 38,2 ng/ml vs. 261,2 +/- 42,5 ng/ml; p<0,01). Results of the study show that serum concentration of sICAM-1 similarly as NO could be a valuable and sensitive marker of endothelial dysfunction.