Plasmatic endothelin-1 levels in hyperthyroid patients before and after antithyroid therapy.
BACKGROUND
The Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a powerful vasoconstrictor peptide produced by endothelial cells in many vascular diseases probably as a response to vessel damage. In hyperthyroidism as in other endocrinological diseases elevated ET-1 plasma levels have been found.


METHODS
The effect of antithyroid therapy on ET-1 plasmatic levels was evaluated by measuring ET-1 plasma levels before and 2 and 6 months after treatment with methimazole in 14 patients affected by hyperthyroidism.


RESULTS
The hyperthyroid patients had significantly higher ET-1 levels than the controls (18.85 +/- 5.7 vs 10.9 +/- 2.1 pg/ml), while after treatment no difference was found. The ET-1 plasma levels of hyperthyroid patients correlated closely with the raised thyroid metabolic activity independently of its cause. It is possible that the increased ET-1 levels in hyperthyroid patients are the expression of blood vessel damage caused by high thyroid hormone levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Moreover the results of this study could suggest that, in future, ET-1 plasmatic levels might be considered as a functional thyroid index in hyperthyroid diseases.
Cesareo
R
R
Division of Internal Medicine, Ciriè Hospital, Via Battitore-10073 Ciriè, TO.
Tarabuso
A
A
Di Benedetto
M
M
Lacerna
F
F
Reda
G
G
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1