Clinical significance of serum matrix metalloproteinase-13 levels in patients with localized scleroderma

CER2827
2006 Vol.24, N°4
PI 0394, PF 0399
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PMID: 16956429 [PubMed]

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the clinical significance of serum matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) levels in patients with localized scleroderma (LSc).
METHODS:
Serum MMP-13 levels were determined by using a peptide substrate cleavage assay in 10 patients with generalized morphea, 10 with linear scleroderma, 10 with morphea, and 10 normal controls.
RESULTS:
The serum MMP-13 levels in patients with LSc were lower than those in normal controls, but there was no significant difference (64.9 ± 19.9 versus 73.2 ± 11.5, p = 0.058). Serum MMP-13 levels in patients with generalized morphea were significantly lower than those in normal controls (54.0 ± 18.7 versus 73.2 ± 11.5 ng/ml; p < 0.01). Serum levels of MMP-13 were comparable among normal controls, the patients with linear scleroderma, and those with morphea. The prevalence of muscle involvement was significantly greater in the LSc patients with decreased MMP-13 levels compared with those with normal MMP-13 levels (50% versus 8%, p < 0.05). Serum MMP-13 levels were significantly inversely correlated with the number of linear lesions (r = 0.366, p < 0.05) and the number of involved body areas (r = 0.552, p < 0.005) in patients with LSc, while there was no significant correlation between serum MMP-13 levels and the number of plaque lesions. Furthermore, there was significant inverse correlation between serum MMP-13 levels and the number of involved body areas in patients with generalized morphea (r = 0.631, p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
The serum MMP-13 levels may reflect the disease severity in patients with LSc, especially gerenalized morphea, the severest form of this disorder.