Plasma endothelin-1 levels in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma and pheochromocytoma.
The aim of the study was to evaluate possible changes of plasma endothelin-1 levels (ET-1) in patients with hypertension secondary to primary aldosteronism and pheochromocytoma. We enrolled in the study: 12 patients affected by aldosterone-producing adenoma (5 M and 7 W; mean age 42.1 +/- 17.2 years); 8 patients with pheochromocytoma (5 M, 3 W; mean age 36.2 +/- 17.1 years); 15 patients with essential hypertension (9 M, 6 W; mean age 48.5 +/- 10 years). We also enrolled a normal control group (8 M, 12 W; mean age 34.2 +/- 11 years). The mean plasma ET-1 concentrations in patients with pheochromocytoma were significantly higher (23.9 +/- 5.2 pg/ml) than those in normal subjects (7.3 +/- 1.9 pg/ml), in patients with primary aldosteronism (12.1 +/- 3.8 pg/ml) and in patients with essential hypertension (9.2 +/- 3 pg/ml); p < 0.001, respectively. The present investigation demonstrates that in human adrenal hypertension patients with pheochromocytoma have increased circulating ET-1 levels respect to patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma.
Letizia
C
C
I Patologia Medica, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
De Toma
G
G
Cerci
S
S
Scuro
L
L
De Ciocchis
A
A
D'Ambrosio
C
C
Massa
R
R
Cavallaro
A
A
Scavo
D
D
D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1