title: Endothelin-1 in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scleroderma is a systemic disorder with unknown etiology most notably characterized by skin thickening and organ damage. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays a role in skin fibrosis. The aim of this study was survey and comparison of ET-1 level in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients with and without digital ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional analytical study conducted among the 95 patients with scleroderma in 2006 who were referred to the Rheumatology clinic in Shariati hospital of Tehran. The questionnaire was completed for every patient. Plasma level of endothelin-1 was also measured in all of them. The data was analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result indicated, relationship among digital ulcers and digital pitting scars with plasma level of ET-1 were significant (P value < 0.05). We could not find any significant relationship between age and plasma level of ET-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate plasma level of ET-1 in scleroderma patients with digital ulcer was higher than patients without digital ulcer. Thus, increase in plasma level of ET-1 could be effective in vascular damage, fibrosis, and skin thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Faculty Member of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aghaei
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gharibdost
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zayeni
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akhlaghi
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sedighi
authors.forename: Abduo Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rostamian
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aghdami
authors.forename: Mahdieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shojaa
keywords: Digital ulcer; endothelin; scleroderma