Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in serum in chronic hepatitis B and C.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is expressed on the hepatocyte membrane in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. We assayed levels of the soluble form of this molecule (sICAM-1) in serum by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method; we then analyzed the results in relation to hepatitis activity. Fifty-one patients with chronic hepatitis (22 with type B and 29 with type C) and 10 normal controls were examined. The serum levels of sICAM-1 in hepatitis B and C were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in normal controls. The serum level of sICAM-1 was correlated with serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase level (P < 0.01), and the level of sICAM-1 in patients in whom exacerbation was seen was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in patients in a remission. There was no relationship between the serum level of sICAM-1 and the degree of ICAM-1 expression on the hepatocyte membrane. These results suggest that the serum level of sICAM-1 reflects the degree of activity of chronic hepatitis B and C.