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Increased circulating endothelins are not of cardiopulmonary origin in heart failure patients

Y Z Wang1, J P Goetze, R Videbaek

  • 1Medical Department B, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, the Heart Centre, and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark. wang@rh.dk

Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation
|August 4, 2005
PubMed

Insights

In heart failure patients, elevated endothelin-1 and big-endothelin levels primarily stem from increased peripheral endothelial secretion, not the cardiopulmonary system.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 and big-endothelin are elevated in heart failure.
  • The specific origin of this increased secretion within the cardiopulmonary system is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if the cardiopulmonary system contributes to circulating endothelin-1 and big-endothelin levels in heart failure patients.
  • To investigate the regional secretion of endothelin in the cardiovascular system.

Main Methods:

  • Blood samples were collected during right heart catheterization from various cardiovascular regions, including the coronary sinus.
  • Samples were analyzed from 12 chronic heart failure patients and 12 age-matched controls.

Main Results:

  • Peripheral endothelin-1 concentrations were nearly threefold higher in heart failure patients compared to controls (p<0.01).
  • Endothelin-1 levels were approximately 25% lower in coronary sinus plasma than in inferior caval vein plasma in heart failure patients (p<0.05).
  • No significant differences in big-endothelin concentrations were observed across cardiovascular regions.

Conclusions:

  • Increased plasma endothelin-1 and big-endothelin in heart failure predominantly originate from peripheral endothelial secretion.
  • The cardiopulmonary system does not appear to be the primary source of elevated endothelin in this condition.
Abstract

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