title: Endothelin-1 levels in chronic congestive heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelin-1 levels in patients with chronic congestive heart failure were evaluated with respect to the severity of cardiac dysfunction. The relationships between three neurohormones, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), human atrial natriuretic peptide (HANP), and endothelin-1,were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients (17 men and 23 women, aged 64-98 years) with chronic congestive heart failure were evaluated. Echocardiography was performed for each patient, and the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was calculated. Titers of HANP, BNP and endothelin-1 in serum were measured. Exclusion criteria included acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and renal dysfunction (serum creatinine >1.6 mg/dl).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endothelin-1 levels were correlated with HANP (r = 0.675, p < 0.0001) and BNP (r = 0.616, p < 0.0001) levels. Endothelin-1 levels were not correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction or end-diastolic volume. BNP levels were correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction (r = 0.315, p = 0.057).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that endothelin-1 interacts with HANP and BNP in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Endothelin-1 is suggested to play an important role in chronic congestive heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
authors: Division of Cardiology, Kochi General Rehabilitation Hospital, Kochi City, Japan. m6537099@fc4.so-net.ne.jp
authors: Minoru
authors: M
authors: Ohmae
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor