Intercellular cell adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1) are expressed in a high quantity on hepatocytes and at the level of endothelium cells from sinusoidal vessels in the liver tissue of patients with chronic hepatitis C. The soluble forms of these molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 can be determined in the serum of patients through the immunoenzymatic technique (ELISA).
The aim: of the study was to analyse the base level of these molecules and the changes induced through the combined treatment of interferon-alpha (IFN- alpha) and ribavirin (Rib).
Materials and methods: Twenty patients suffering from viral chronic hepatitis C were studied: 10 patients responded completely to antiviral treatment and 10 patients showed no response at the end of the treatment. At the end of the therapy patients were placed under biochemical observation for a further six months. The serum concentration of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 was measured using ELISA assay at the beginning and the end of the combined treatment: six months IFN 3MU (three times a week) associated with Rib.
Results: Statistically, a significant correlation was observed between the values of sICAM-1 pretreatment and the level of viremia, gamma glutamiltrans-peptidase (GGT), but without correlation to the alanin amino transferase (ALT) level. The value of sICAM-1 was significantly higher in patients who had fibrosis score F: 3-4. After the treatment, the serum concentration of sICAM-1 dropped significantly in patients with sustained biochemical response in comparison to patients who had an unsustained response or had no response whatsoever. A significant correlation between the sVCAM-1 pre-treatment value and the level of viremia, GGT, ALT was not established.
Conclusions: The level of sICAM-1 could be a useful parameter in the observation of the disease evolution of patients with viral chronic hepatitis C treated with IFN-alpha and Rib.