title: Plasma endothelin in patients with acute aortic disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the plasma levels of endothelin 1/2 in patients with acute symptoms relating to a known or newly diagnosed aortic aneurysm in order to investigate the possible role of peptides in the development of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endothelin 1/2 plasma levels were determined in patients admitted to the emergency unit with suspected acute aortic disease. The history, type of aneurysm, outcome and laboratory findings were determined and compared to endothelin 1/2 levels collected on admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with ruptured aneurysm (n=27) or acute aortic dissection (n=18) the endothelin 1/2 median levels were higher 1.1 (25th and 75th quartile 0.7, 1.7) fmol/ml than in patients (n=20) with pre-existing aneurysm 0.7 (0.4, 1.1) fmol/ml (P=0.013). Patients who died had significantly higher endothelin levels 1.3 (0.8, 1.9) fmol/ml than the survivors 0.8 (0.5, 1.4) fmol/ml (P=0.04). In a logistic regression analysis, only a higher blood pressure on admission was an independent predictor of survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endothelin 1/2 levels are elevated in patients with acute dissection or ruptured aneurysm, but they are not an independent predictor of survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Vienna, Vienna General Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Domanovits
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holzer
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kofler
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Röggla
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Müllner
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oschatz
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prager
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sterz
authors.forename: Anton N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Laggner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000097:blood*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D019333:Endothelin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D019333:Endothelin-2