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. 2001 Nov;120(5):1562-9.
doi: 10.1378/chest.120.5.1562.

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

C Rubens  1 , R Ewert, M Halank, R Wensel, H D Orzechowski, H P Schultheiss, G Hoeffken
Affiliations

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

C Rubens et al. Chest. 2001 Nov.

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.

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