Elevated levels of circulating soluble adhesion molecules in patients with nonrheumatic aortic stenosis.

Increased serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules are found in various disorders of inflammatory or immunologic etiology. We found elevated levels of the soluble adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin in patients with nonrheumatic aortic stenosis, suggesting that inflammation may be important in the pathogenesis of this condition, which is generally believed to be degenerative.