The role of endothelin-1 in Binswanger's disease.
BACKGROUND
Endothelin-1 is known to exist in the nervous system. A notable increase of plasma endothelin-1 is associated with acute stroke. This study was designed to measure plasma endothelin-1 levels in Binswanger's disease and explore the relationship between endothelin-1 and this disorder.


METHODS
Plasma levels of endothelin-1 were-examined by radioimmunoassay in 31 patients with Binswanger's disease and in three groups of control subjects. The ratio of the plasma concentration of endothelin-1 in the internal jugular vein to that in the antecubital vein was calculated as an indicator of endothelin-1 level in cerebral circulation.


RESULTS
Endothelin-1 ratio devation was seen more often in patients with Binswanger's disease than in acute stroke patients. Endithelin-1 ratios were significantly negatively correlated with Hasegawa's Dementia Scale scores is subjects with Binswanger's disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormalities is vasoactive factors may make an important contribution to the pathophysiology of Binswanger's disease. Endothelin-1 might be involved in the pathogenesis of this illness.
Chen
C F
CF
Department of Neurology, Jinan Military General Hospital, P.R.C.
Guo
S S
SS
Jia
H Y
HY
Dai
J X
JX
Xue
S W
SW
D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D019332:Endothelin-1