Tuberc Respir Dis.  1998 Apr;45(2):360-368.

Plasma and Urine Endothelin Concentrations in Patients with Diffuse Interstitial Lung Disease

• Lee JD
• Lee SD
• Lim CM
• Koh YS
• Kim WS
• Kim DS
• Kim WD

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Endothelin(ET), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by endothelial cells and degraded predominantly in the pulmonary vasculature, have been implicated in the development of various organ dysfunctions. Plasma concentrations of ET-1 are reported to be elevated in patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease(DILD). But, there is no study to establish the exact source and mechanisms involved in the increased plasma ET-1 concentrations in DILD patients.
METHODS
12 patients with IPF, 2 patients with sarcoidosis, 2 patients with scleroderma, 1 patient with SLE and 11 healthy volunteers were studied. ET was detected by radioimmunoassay in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) as well as in 24-hr urine specimens. For each subjects, arterial/venous(A7V) ET ratio and renal ET clearance were calculated.
RESULTS
Elevated plasma, urine and BALF ET concentrations were found in patients with DILD compared with controls. But, no significant difference was observed in ET A/V ratio and ET renal clearance between patients with DILD and controls.
CONCLUSION
We observed that plasma ET concentrations were elevated in patients with DILD, and that the main site of ET production may be lung parenchyme.

Keyword

Endothelin; Diffuse interstitial lung disease

MeSH Terms

Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Endothelial Cells
Endothelins*
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Lung
Lung Diseases, Interstitial*
Plasma*
Radioimmunoassay
Sarcoidosis
Endothelins