Table 3

Endothelial, T-cell and fibroblast activation markers in early SSc, UCTD patients and controls

Biomarker

Early SSc

(n = 21)

UCTD

(n = 24)

Controls†

(n = 25)

sE-selectin (pg/ml)

median (range)

0.732 (0.35 to 1.2)

0.87 (0.32 to 1.99) #

0.806 (0.4 to 1.76)

sIL-2Rα (pg/ml)

median (range)

239 (66.7 to 1,002)

346 (14.3 to 931)

301 (17.9 to 807)

ICTP (μg/l)

median (range)

3.998 (1.88 to 10.5)*; °

2.86 (1.17 to 4.25)

3.21 (1.39 to 5.27)

PIIINP (μg/l)

median (range)

1.491 (0.002 to 5.43)

1.66 (0.01 to 2.98)

1.65 (0.35 to 7.49)

ICTP, carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen; IL-2Rα, interleukin-2 receptor alpha; PIIINP, aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen; s, soluble; SSc, systemic sclerosis; UCTD, undifferentiated connective tissue disease. † Affected by osteoarthritic or primary fibromyalgia syndrome. * P < 0.05 early SSc vs controls;°P < 0.05 early SSc vs UCTD; #P < 0.05 UCTD vs early SSc (P = 0.07 vs controls)

Valentini et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012 14:R188   doi:10.1186/ar4019