Plasma concentrations of endothelin in patients with abnormal vascular reactivity. Effects of ergometric exercise and acute saline loading

Hans-Georg Predel, H Meyer-Lehnert, A Bäcker, H Stelkens, H J Kramer

Publication: Contribution to journalJournal articlesResearch

Abstract

We measured circulating concentrations of endothelin, a recently discovered vasoconstrictor peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells, in healthy subjects and in patients with abnormal vascular reactivity. Endothelin concentrations were determined by radio-immunoassay after extraction of plasma using Sep-Pak C-18 cartridges in healthy subjects (n = 20), in patients with diabetes mellitus type I (n = 10), in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (n = 12) and in non-dialyzed patients with stable chronic renal failure (n = 12). Plasma concentrations were similar in healthy controls, in diabetics and in hypertensive patients averaging 5.0 +/- 0.6 pg/ml, 4.7 +/- 0.2 pg/ml and 6.5 +/- 1.0 pg/ml, respectively. In contrast, plasma concentrations of endothelin were markedly elevated in patients with chronic renal failure averaging 16.6 +/- 2.9 pg/ml (p less than 0.005). No correlations were observed between serum creatinine concentrations ranging from 124 to 850 mumol/l or blood pressure and plasma concentrations of endothelin. Bicycle ergometric exercise in six healthy subjects and an acute modest i.v. saline load of 1,000 ml of 0.45% NaCl administered within 60 min in six patients with mild essential hypertension did not affect plasma concentrations of endothelin. Thus, it is unlikely that vascular synthesis of endothelin is related to acute physiological changes in systemic hemodynamics or to the circulatory and renal responses to acute extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) expansion. A potential role of endothelin, however, in the control of regional blood flow cannot be excluded. Elevated plasma concentrations of endothelin observed in patients with chronic renal failure require further investigations.

Original languageEnglish
JournalLife sciences
Volume47
Issue number20
Pages (from-to)1837-1843
Number of pages7
ISSN0024-3205
Publication statusPublished - 01.01.1990

Research areas and keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
  • Endothelins
  • Exercise
  • Exercise Test
  • Humans
  • Hypertension
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sodium Chloride

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