Study On Serum SICAM-1, IL-18 And IFN-γ In Patients With Myasthenia Gravis

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ ) in myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods: The levels of sICAM-1, IL-18 and IFN-γ were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EL1SA) in 45 patients with MG while 30 healthy donors served as a normal control(NC). MG group was subdivided into subgroups according to their absolute scores rated by Xu' s score system. Results: (1) The levels of sICAM-1 and IL-18 in patients were significantly higher than those in NC group(P<0. 01), and were increased more obviously in the cases of Ⅲ and IV type.The levels of sICAM-1 and IL-18 in patients were decreased after immunochemotherapy. (2) IFN-γ cannot be detected in both MG and NC groups. (3)The level of sICAM-1 was increased more obviously in patients whose courses were within six months than those over one year(P<0. 01). In the former cases, the absolute scores and the levels of sICAM-1 and IL-18 were significantly decreased after immunochemotherapy ( P<0.01 ) . (4)There was positive correlation between the serum level of IL-18 and myasthenic scores rated by Xu' s scoring system(r=0. 767). Conclusion: sICAM-1 and IL-18 were involved in the pathology of MG. The level of sICAM-1 was a reliable parameter in evaluating the activity of MG patients, and IL-18 was a reliable parameter in evaluating the disabilities in MG patients .Either sICAM-1 or IL-18 was useful in monitoring the effect of therapy on MG.