title: Plasma endothelin-1 in patients with stable or unstable angina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been documented that an elevated endothelin-1 (ET-1) plasma concentration is associated with an increased risk of serious coronary events and the presence of angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD). The results of a few studies which examined ET-1 plasma level in patients with stable or unstable angina, were inconclusive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether ET-1 blood concentration measured in the coronary sinus and peripheral vein is associated with clinical symptoms in patients with multi-vessel CAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 23 patients with multi-vessel CAD of whom 11 had unstable angina and 12 - stable angina. Both groups were matched with regard to age, gender and the presence of cardio-vascular risk factors. Blood samples for ET-1 assessment were taken during coronary angiography simultaneously from the coronary sinus and femoral vein. ET-1 was measured using an immunoenzymatic method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ET-1 plasma level in the peripheral venous circulation was similar in patients with unstable or stable angina (0.45+/-0.18 pmol/L versus 0.46+/-0.14 pmol/L, NS) whereas ET-1 level in the coronary sinus was significantly higher in patients with unstable angina (1.44+/-0.47 pmol/L versus 0.34+/-0.17 pmol/L, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ET-1 concentration in the coronary sinus is significantly higher in patients with unstable rather than stable angina which confirms the role of ET-1 in the pathogenesis of CAD. Our results suggest a possible future role of endothelin receptor blockers in the treatment of patients with unstable angina.
authors.affiliation: III Department of Cardiology, Silesian Medical Academy, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zuk-Popiołek
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Flak
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Francuz
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tendera
mesh_terms: D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1