Soluble cell adhesion molecules - P-selectin and ICAM-1, and disease activity in patients receiving sulphasalazine for active rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of this pilot study was to examine soluble cell adhesion molecules before and after sulphasalazine (SSZ) therapy in active RA. Assessment of RA patients (n=13) was undertaken before and after 3 months of SSZ. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sP- and sE-selectin were measured using an ELISA. The mean (±SEM) C-reactive protein (CRP) and sP-selectin levels were significantly reduced from 3.9(0.89) to 2.01(0.53) mg/dl and from 332.8 (48.2) to 116.2 (11.1) respectively, after 3 months of SSZ. The sICAM-1 and sP-selectin levels were significantly higher in RA patients at baseline and a reduction occurred of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin levels, however this was not significant. The fall in mean (SEM) sICAM-1, from 345.0 (29.8) to 333.5 (30.2), correlated with the change in CRP (r=0.66; p=0.018), but the fall in sP-selectin did not. SSZ therapy reduced sP-selectin and sICAM-1 levels in active RA, sICAM-1 correlates with disease activity. SSZ may reduce platelet and/or endothelial activity in RA which may be a useful marker of response, however studies of longer duration and more patients are required.