Raynaud’s phenomenon is the typical initial symptom of systemic sclerosis (SSc), yet only a small fraction of patients with this symptom will develop an associated connective tissue disease.
The aim of this study was to asses the predictive value of soluble E-selectin in the progression to SSc in Raynaud’s
disease. Serum E-selectin levels were measured by ELISA in 50 women with Raynaud’s phenomenon (32 Raynaud’s disease patients, 18 SSc patients) and 15 healthy controls. Levels of
E-selectin in Raynaud’s disease were significantly increased compared with normal controls (p<0.001) and significantly reduced compared with SSc patients (p<0.001). Levels of
E-selectin were significantly higher in Raynaud’s disease patients in whom either positive antinuclear antibody and/or
abnormal nailfold capillary findings were identified than in patients without these findings (p<0.025), but significantly
lower than in SSc patients (p<0.005). No correlation was
found between E-selectin levels and Raynaud’s phenomenon/cutaneous sclerosis diuration, ANA titre, SSc type and systemic involvement. These data seem to confirm the involvement of endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of Raynaud’s disease and SSc. Serum levels of E-selectin not only demonstrate the extend of endothelial injury and/or activation, but also could be a useful marker to monitor the progression to SSc in Raynaud’s disease.