Whole-body cooling increases plasma endothelin-1 levels in women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.
To understand better the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the pathogenesis of primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP), we investigated the basal ET-1 plasma levels and changes after whole-body cooling in healthy women and those with PRP. The study was performed as an open parallel-group comparison during the month of February. The Raynaud group included 21 female patients (mean age 45.3 years, range 21-57 years) who had had disabling Raynaud's phenomenon for a mean period of 17 years (range 2-26 years). The control group consisted of 25 healthy women (mean age 43.6 years, range 27-56 years). Plasma levels of ET-1 were measured on two separate occasions: once after 30 min of rest at room temperature and after 40 min of whole-body cooling. There were no significant differences in baseline plasma ET-1 levels between the two groups of women. The plasma ET-1 levels increased significantly in the PRP group after cold exposure (mean difference 0.11 pmol l-1, 95% CI 0.005-0.214, P = 0.012). In contrast, the levels of plasma ET-1 in the control group did not change significantly after cold provocation. In conclusion, no differences in plasma basal levels of ET-1 were observed between the two groups. However, women suffering from Raynaud's phenomenon responded with a slight but significant elevation in plasma levels of ET-1 after whole-body cooling, whereas the healthy control subjects did not. The results from the present study confirm previous observations that endothelial dysfunction may be of aetiological importance in PRP.
Leppert
J
J
Department of Research, Central Hospital, Västerås, Sweden.
Ringqvist
A
A
Karlberg
B E
BE
Ringqvist
I
I
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology
D019332:Endothelin-1