Concentrations Of ICTP Research Articles

Increased type I collagen degradation correlates with disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis.

To assess the extent and clinical significance of type I collagen degradation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Serum samples from 90 consecutive patients with RA from a cross-sectional population based study and 90 age- and sex-matched controls were analysed with the new assay of cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP). Patients with RA had significantly higher concentrations of ICTP than the controls. ICTP correlated strongly with measures of impairment in RA, such as the erosive state of joint disease (ES) (r = 0.57, p < 0.001) and Keitel function test (KFT) (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), and more weakly with various disease activity markers. When erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ES or KFT were used as indicators of disease severity among the patients with disease duration over five years, ICTP distinguished the more serious RA from milder cases. Elevated serum concentrations of ICTP are common in RA and are associated with signs of aggressive disease.

Serum markers of collagen synthesis and degradation in skin diseases. Altered levels in diseases with systemic manifestation and during systemic glucocorticoid treatment.

Serum concentrations of the markers of collagen synthesis and degradation, collagen I propeptide (PICP), collagen III propeptide (PIIINP) and the cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) were measured in young male dermatological patients and in control subjects. No significant differences were noted between patients suffering from atopic eczema (n = 24), other eczemas (n = 11), acne (n = 8), psoriasis (n = 7) or tinea (n = 9) and the control subjects (n = 24). In the total study population representing patients with common skin diseases and control subjects there was a significant correlation between the serum concentrations of PICP and PIIINP and between the concentrations of PICP and ICTP. This suggests that synthesis of type I and III collagens in vivo is coordinated and that the degradation and synthesis of type I collagen is balanced. These markers were also measured in older patients suffering from psoriasis, eczema and various connective tissue diseases. It was noted that the degree of skin involvement in these diseases was not related to the serum concentrations of the markers of collagen metabolism. The highest levels of PICP and PIIINP were observed in a patient with systemic mastocytosis (PICP 309 micrograms/l and PIIINP 8.0 micrograms/l). Increased levels of PIIINP were also found in patients with a high alcohol consumption. We have previously demonstrated that systemic glucocorticoids reduce collagen propeptide levels in serum. In the present study we also proved that systemic glucocorticoids have no effect on collagen degradation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)