OBJECTIVE To investigate markers of endothelial activation in muscle biopsies from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with and without extra-articular manifestations (ExRA). PATIENTS AND METHODS Nine consecutive ExRA patients were compared with nine RA controls without ExRA, matched for age, sex and duration of RA. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the lateral vastus or anterior tibial muscl...

Platelet activation and adhesion to the site of vascular injury is a dynamic process comprising reversible and irreversible phases. Platelet adhesion typically occurs in a multi-step process similar to the selectin/integrin-mediated adhesion of neutrophils. This phenomenon is highly regulated and influenced by the cross-talk between platelets and injured endothelium. This cross-talk involves a ...

Levels of soluble cellular adhesion molecules are increased in patients with atherosclerosis, and have been found to predict coronary heart disease. Therefore these molecules have been suggested to represent laboratory markers for inflammation and activation of endothelial cells. Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation has been demonstrated to be an early marker of atherosclerosis. We hypot...

Adhesion molecules play a role in the inflammation and pathogenesis of vascular diseases. In 13 patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon, 19 with Raynaud's phenomenon associated with connective tissue disease, and 16 control subjects, we measured plasma levels of soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, and von Willebrand factor. Patie...