title: Endothelin-1 and nitric oxide levels in patients with mitral annulus calcification.
abstract: Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is a chronic degenerative noninflammatory process. The goal of this study was to determine endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NOx) levels in patients with MAC and compare them with those in normal subjects. The study group included 39 patients [26 females (66%), age, 63 +/- 8 years] with MAC and 20 [11 females (55%), age, 61 +/- 7 years] healthy subjects. The patients were divided into two subgroups, group A with severe MAC and group B with mild MAC, according to the severity of the MAC. Plasma ET-1 levels were higher and NOx levels were lower in patients than controls [(6.5 +/- 5.6 pg/mL vs 3.7 +/- 2.9 pg/mL for ET-1 and 35.0 +/- 10.6 micromol/L vs 42.3 +/- 9.9 micromol/L for NOx; P < 0.05 for both)]. In the subgroups, ET-1 levels were higher in group A than group B (8.65 +/- 6.84 pg/mL vs 4.74 +/- 3.45 pg/mL, P < 0.05) and the control group (8.65 +/- 6.84 pg/mL vs 3.70 +/- 2.88 pg/mL, P < 0.05). There was no difference between group B and the control group. Plasma NOx levels were significantly decreased in group A compared to controls (32.22 +/- 11.88 micromol/L vs 42.25 +/- 9.99 micromol/L, P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between group B (37.38 +/- 9.06 micromol/L) and the other groups. Diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and dyslipidemia were significantly associated with ET-1 levels. However, this association was not observed for NOx. In conclusion, patients with MAC have increased ET-1 and decreased NOx levels. This seems to be more prominent in patients with severe MAC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camsari
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pekdemir
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciçek
authors.forename: Tuna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katircibasi
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parmaksiz
authors.forename: Oben
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Doven
authors.forename: V Gökhan
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Cin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D004452:Echocardiography; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide