09 September 2002
Elevated plasma endothelin-1 levels and vascular dysregulation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Mona Pache, Hans A. Schwarz, Hedwig J. Kaiser, Peter Wüest, Manuel Klöti, Barbara Dubler, Josef FlammerMed Sci Monit 2002; 8(9): CR616-619 :: ID: 13275
Abstract
Summary
Background: Contradictory results on plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been reported in previous studies. We therefore evaluated whether plasma ET-1 levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis differ from those of normal controls. Since systemically increased levels of ET-1 are known to occur in tandem with primary or secondary vascular dysregulation, we also measured peripheral blood flow by means of nailfold capillaroscopy
combined with a cold provocation test.
Material/Methods: We measured plasma levels of ET-1 in twelve patients with different stages of rheumatoid arthritis by means of a specific radioimmunoassay, and compared ET-1 values to those of
healthy controls. Capillary blood flow and the frequency of cold-induced vasospasm were studied in parallel, using nailfold capillaroscopy combined with a cold provocation test.
Results: Plasma ET-1 levels were significantly increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (p = 0.01) when compared to controls (2.38±0.95 pg/ml vs. 1.53±0.38 pg/ml). Capillary blood flow
was reduced when compared to our own normal values, and a cold-induced blood standstill was seen in 58% of the patients.
Conclusion: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis exhibit significantly elevated levels of ET-1, which may be associated with the symptoms of vascular dysregulation observed in nailfold capillaroscopy.
Even though the clinical conclusions should be drawn from this study with caution, additional therapy with calcium channel blockers or, possibly in the future, with ET-1 receptor blockers, may be beneficial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Keywords: Arthritis, Rheumatoid - blood, Arthritis, Rheumatoid - pathology, Case-Control Studies, Endothelin-1 - blood, Microscopic Angioscopy, Radioimmunoassay, Regional Blood Flow, Time Factors
Editorial
01 February 2025 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Approaches to Screening for Lung Cancer in Smokers and Non-SmokersDOI: 10.12659/MSM.948255
Med Sci Monit 2025; 31:e948255
In Press
Clinical Research
Predicting Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden Based on Thromboelastography in Patients with Acute Ischemi...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.946303
Clinical Research
Long-Term Outcomes of Implanon in Managing Adenomyosis: A 3-Year Prospective StudyMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.945972
Laboratory Research
Linear Dimensional Accuracy in Maxillomandibular Records: A Comparative Study of Scannable and Transparent ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947265
Clinical Research
Efficacy of King's Combined Uterine Suture in Managing Placenta Accreta: A Retrospective AnalysisMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.945826
Most Viewed Current Articles
17 Jan 2024 : Review article 6,969,932
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research 701,896
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
01 Mar 2024 : Editorial 25,741
Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and ...DOI :10.12659/MSM.944204
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204
28 Jan 2024 : Review article 20,253
A Review of IgA Vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein Purpura) Past, Present, and FutureDOI :10.12659/MSM.943912
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943912