Endothelin receptor antagonists in cardiology clinical trials.
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is enhanced and has been demonstrated to be a prognostic marker in patients with advanced stages of heart failure, acute ischaemic syndromes, myocardial infarction and pulmonary hypertension. Activation of the endothelin (ET) system is associated with adverse haemodynamic consequences in patients with congestive heart failure and results in coronary vasoconstriction in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Moreover, ET-1 raises blood pressure, induces vascular and myocardial hypertrophy and acts as the natural counterpart of nitric oxide (NO), which exerts vasodilating, antithrombotic and antiproliferative effects. This article reviews recently completed and ongoing clinical trials examining the effects of ET receptor antagonists in patients with heart failure, CAD, arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension.
Neunteufl
Thomas
T
Department of Cardiology, University of Vienna Medical School, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. thomas.neunteufl@univie.ac.at
Berger
Rudolf
R
Pacher
Richard
R
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists