title: Significance of plasma endothelin-1 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a novel potent vasoconstrictor peptide discovered in the supernatant fraction of cultured endothelial cells. We measured plasma levels of ET-1 using a sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Plasma concentrations of ET-1 in 31 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) (1.90 +/- 0.47 pg/ml) were higher than those (1.31 +/- 0.10 pg/ml) in 25 age and sex matched healthy subjects. Patients with SSc with diffuse scleroderma had higher levels of ET-1 compared with those with limited scleroderma. Plasma ET-1 levels correlated inversely with carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco). Measurement of plasma ET-1 levels may be useful as a predictor of prognosis of SSc.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Yamane
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Miyauchi
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Suzuki
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Yuhara
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Akama
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Suzuki
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kashiwagi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016232:Endothelins; D002248:Carbon Monoxide