Received on December 22, 2006
Accepted on April 26, 2007

Hemostasis and Thrombosis

High Concentrations of Soluble P-Selectin Are Associated with Risk of Venous Thromboembolism and the P-Selectin Thr715 Variant

¹ Division of Haematology and Haemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
² Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics
³ Core Unit for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Section of Clinical Biometrics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
⁴ Department of Clinic for Blood Group Serology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
⁵ Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ingrid.pabinger{at}meduniwien.ac.at.

Background: The cell adhesion molecule P-selectin has an important role in the pathophysiology of thrombosis. The effect on venous thromboembolism (VTE) of increased circulating concentrations of soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) and their association with the P-selectin variant Thr715Pro is still uncertain.

Methods: This study was a case-control study of 116 patients with confirmed recurrent VTE and at least 1 event of unprovoked deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and 129 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. We measured sP-selectin by ELISA and P-selectin gene (SELP) variation by genotyping and sampled blood after a mean interval of 2.55 years after the most recent VTE event.

Results: The mean (SD) sP-selectin concentration was higher in patients than in controls: 47.3 (15.0) µg/L vs 36.8 (11.0) µg/L, P <0.001. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for sP-selectin >55.1 µg/L, representing the 95th percentile for controls, was 8.5 (95% CI, 3.7-23.3; P <0.001) and increased after adjustment for factor V Leiden, the prothrombin G20210A variant, increased factor VIII, and hyperhomocysteinemia (OR, 10.6; 95% CI, 4.1-31.2; P <0.001). Pro715 carriers were more prevalent among controls than patients (21.7% vs 14.7%). sP-selectin concentrations were lower in this subgroup than in noncarriers: 31.3 (7.9) µg/L vs 44.1 (14.1) µg/L; P <0.001).

Conclusions: Increased sP-selectin concentrations are associated with VTE and genotype status. sP-selectin concentrations are lower in individuals carrying the P-selectin Pro715 variant than in those without this variant.