Big endothelin-1 and endothelin-1 plasma levels are correlated with the severity of primary pulmonary hypertension

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Big endothelin-1 and endothelin-1 plasma levels are correlated with the severity of primary pulmonary hypertension
Creators Name:	Rubens, C. and Ewert, R. and Halank, M. and Wensel, R. and Orzechowski, H.D. and Schultheiss, H.P. and Hoeffken, G.
Abstract:	STUDY OBJECTIVES: Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a rare disease of unknown etiology that is characterized by a poor prognosis. This study was undertaken to investigate possible correlations between endothelin (ET)-1 and big ET-1 plasma levels and the severity of PPH. PATIENTS: Sixteen consecutive patients with PPH were included. INTERVENTIONS: Hemodynamics of patients with PPH were measured by right-heart catheterization, and a 6-min walk test was performed. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma levels of the biologically active peptide ET-1 and its precursor big ET-1 were determined in blood samples from the pulmonary artery, peripheral artery, and peripheral vein by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: A strong correlation was shown between pulmonary vascular resistance, mean pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output, cardiac index, 6-min walk data, and elevated plasma levels of big ET-1 as well as mature ET-1 plasma levels at all sites of blood sampling (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Levels of circulating ET-1 might become a prognostic marker for patients with PPH and serve as a tool for the selection of patients who may benefit from treatment with ET-receptor antagonists.
Keywords:	Biological Markers, Blood Pressure, Cardiac Output, Endothelin-1, Endothelins, Hemodynamics, Pulmonary Hypertension, Prognosis, Protein Precursors, Pulmonary Artery, Vascular Resistance
Source:	Chest
ISSN:	0012-3692
Publisher:	American College of Chest Physicians
Volume:	120
Number:	5
Page Range:	1562-1569
Date:	1 November 2001
Official Publication:	http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/120/5/1562.abstract
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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