title: Increased plasma levels of endothelin-1 in patients with hyperthyroidism.
abstract: Plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured in 25 hyperthyroid subjects, 15 hypothyroid subjects, and 21 age-matched normal controls. In hyperthyroid patients, plasma concentrations of ET-1 were significantly higher than in the control group (P < .0001) and in hypothyroid patients (P < .0001). In contrast, no differences were found between hypothyroid patients and controls. Plasma levels of ET-1 were similarly elevated as in patients with Graves' disease and those with toxic adenoma. No correlations were found between plasma ET-1 levels, thyroid hormones, and thyrotropin (TSH) in hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, and euthyroid groups. The results of our study clearly indicate that in hyperthyroidism, circulating levels of ET-1 are strongly increased, although the pathogenesis of the increase is unclear.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins