[The level of plasma endothelin-1 in patients with essential hypertension]

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) as a potent vasoconstrictor, has mitogenic and inotropic properties, stimulates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic nervous system. The results of recent studies suggest that overall hemodynamic effects of ET-1 may play a part in the control of blood pressure and the pathophysiology of hypertension. Several investigators have invoked increase level of ET-1 in human essential hypertension but the results of studies concerning hypertensive patients with normal renal function have shown that they have similar concentrations of ET-1 to those in normotensives. To establish whether ET-1 may elevate of blood pressure, the value of plasma ET-1 activity was determined in peripheral blood in 101 patients with essential hypertension. There was no significant difference between in mean level of ET-1 in patients with essential hypertension and in control group. The plasma ET 1 was significantly higher in patients with severe hypertension than that of patients with mild and moderate hypertension, and in patients with severe hypertension there was a correlation between the level of ET-1 and microalbuminuria. There was no correlation between the plasma ET-1 level and systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the patients with essential hypertension as a whole, not was there any correlation between ET-1 and noradrenaline, aldosterone level and renin plasma activity.