Heart Valve Lesions Due to the Formation of a Beta-Hemolytic Streptococ Role of Adhesion Molecules

Abstract

Objectives: A rise in the levels of adhesion molecules such as VCAM-1, ICAM-1and E-selectin in valve disease pa tients has been reported lately. In our study, by detecting the presence of adhesion molecule expression in the valve en dothelium we will try to show the level of adhesion molecules in peripheral blood leucocytes. Materials and Methods: Valve samples were obtained from patients having undergone aortic and mitral valve replacement due to symptomatic aortic stenosis/aortic insufficiency and/or mitral stenosis/mitral insufficiency. The clinical preoperative diagnosis was made using two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography. Rheumatic valves were in group B (n = 20). Group A (n = 8) constituted the control group. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using CD4, CD8, CD54/ICAM-1, and CD106/VCAM-1. Flow cytometric analysis was performed. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Fisher’s exact test were used for the comparison of categorical variables. Results: Group A (non-rheumatic) patients were found to be older than group B (rheumatic) patients (59.8 ± 11.4 years vs. 45.3 ± 11.8 years, p = 0.008). In group B VCAM-1 level was higher than that of group A (296.6 ± 21.2 vs. 258.5 ± 42.1, p = 0.004). CD11b monocyte in group B was higher than in group A (98.8 ± 0.5 vs. 92.9 ± 9.7, p = 0.003). CD11b granulocyte was higher in group B than in group A (99.96 ± 0.05 vs. 93.79 ± 13.26, p = 0.33). Significant differences were not determined in the other parameters. Conclusion: The fact that increases in serum VCAM-1 and CD-11b only occurred in patients with rheumatic valvular disease in our study suggests that inflammation in patients with the same hemodynamic disorder is higher in rheumatic valvular disease than in the ones with non-rheumatic valvular disease.