Elevation of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and beta-2-microglobulin in Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disease which is believed to be immunologically mediated. It is marked by inflammation and destruction of the salivary glands and lacrimal glands. We have found significantly higher serum levels of sICAM-1 and beta-2-microglobulin in both primary Sjögren's syndrome patients (429.1 +/- 114.33 ng/ml, 4.4 +/- 1.5 ug/ml resp.) and secondary Sjögren's syndrome patients (424 +/- 140.73 ng/ml, 4.4 +/- 2.67 ug/ml resp.) in comparison with healthy controls (189.1 +/- 42.34 ng/ml, 1.3 +/- 0.38 ug/ml resp.). The serum level of beta-2-microglobulin was significantly correlated with the serum level of sICAM-1 in secondary Sjögren's syndrome patients' group.