title: [Plasma concentration of big endothelin-1 and its relation with plasma NT-proBNP and ventricular function in heart failure patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elevated plasma concentrations of big endothelin-1 (big ET-1) are related with severity and prognosis in patients with heart failure, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a marker of ventricular remodeling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma levels of big ET-1 and NT-proBNP, and between the former and ventricular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 103 patients with heart failure (75 men, mean age 63 [13] years). Each participant completed a questionnaire and underwent Doppler echocardiographic study to measure ejection fraction (EF), mitral flow propagation velocity (Vp) and atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD). Blood samples were also taken to determine plasma levels of big ET-1, aldosterone and NT-proBNP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the whole population big ET-1 concentration was 1.03 [0.75] fmol/m, NT-proBNP 619 (307-1328) pg/mL, aldosterone 168 [102] pg/mL, EF 37 [10], Vp 37 [11] cm/s, and AVPD 8.0 [1.7] mm. Plasma big ET-1 correlated positively with plasma NT-proBNP (r=0.50, P<.0001). However, a negative correlation was found between big ET-1 and EF (r=-0.30, P<.01), Vp, (r=-0.30, P<.01) and AVPD (r=-0.21, P<.05). When ET-1 levels were divided into quartiles and the corresponding NT-proBNP, EF, Vp and AVPD values were compared, we found significant differences (ANOVA P<.0001, P<.01, P<.05 and P<.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma levels of big ET-1 correlated positively with NT-proBNP levels and inversely with EF, Vp and AVPD. These findings help clarify the relationships between ventricular function and the neurohormonal activation involved in heart failure, and may aid the search for therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Centro de Investigación Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain. rivera_jmi@gva.es
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cortés
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Portolés
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sancho-Tello
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez-Dolz
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sevilla
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taléns-Visconti
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jordán
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pérez-Boscá
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Climent
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García de Burgos
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Payá
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sogorb
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bertomeu
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvador
mesh_terms: D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain