title: Circulating endothelin-1 levels in obese patients with the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: We evaluated venous plasma ET-1 concentrations in 18 never-treated obese men (body mass index 31.0 +/- 0.5 kg/m2; age 45.4 +/- 4.3 years) showing the whole features of the above syndrome and 12 control men (age 44.1 +/- 3.6 years). Circulating ET-1 levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p < 0.05), and were directly correlated with fasting insulin levels (r = 0.564, p = 0.015) and erythrocyte Na+/Li+ counter-transport activity (r = 0.504, p = 0.033). In conclusion, venous plasma ET-1 levels are elevated in obese men manifesting the whole features of the metabolic syndrome. Due to the biological properties of ET-1, our findings suggest the peptide as a further component of the cluster of cardiovascular risk factors which characterizes this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: University La Sapienza, Andrea Cesalpino Foundation, Rome, Italy. CLFERRI.axrma.uniroma1.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Desideri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baldoncini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Properzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santucci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Mattia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003971:Diastole; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013577:Syndrome; D013599:Systole
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019332:Endothelin-1; D007328:Insulin; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol