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. 2009 Feb 3;24(4):301–304. doi: 10.1002/clc.4960240409

Vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 serum level in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries (syndrome X)

Dimitris Tousoulis 1, Graham J Daves 1, George Asimakopoulos 1, Homeyra Homaei 1, Emmanouil Zouridakis 1, Nabeel Ahmed 1, Juan Carlos Kaski 1,✉
PMCID: PMC6654860  PMID: 11303698

Abstract

Background: Plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (IC AM‐1) mediators of leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium may implicate in the pathogenesis of the syndrome of chest pain with normal coronary arteries.

Hypothesis: We attempted to determine whether markers of endothelial activation are raised in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries.

Methods: We measured plasma VCAM‐1, ICAM‐1 (ng/ml) in 36 patients (34 men, 2 women, aged 62 ± 9 years) with stable angina, coronary artery disease (CAD), and a positive response to exercise test; in 21 patients (6 men, 15 women, aged 56 ± 9 years) with chest pain and normal coronary arteriograms (syndrome X); and in 11 healthy control subjects (8 men, 3 women, aged 49 ± 14 years).

Results: Plasma ICAM‐1 levels were significantly higher both in patients with CAD (mean ± standard error of the mean) (328 ± 26, p<0.05), and in syndrome X (362 ± 22, p<0.01) than in controls (225 ± 29). VCAM‐1 levels were also higher in syndrome X (656 ± 42 ng/ml) and in patients with CAD (626 ± 42 ng/ml) than in controls (551 ± 60, p=0.09).

Conclusions: ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 levels are increased both in patients with CAD and with syndrome X compared with control individuals. These findings may suggest the presence of chronic inflammation with involvement of the endothelium in patients with anginal chest pain and normal coronary angiograms.

Keywords: endothelium, coronary artery disease, adhesion molecules, syndrome X

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