All issues > Volume 39(7); 1996

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1996;39(7):970-976. Published online July 15, 1996.

Correlation between Plasma Endothelin-1 Concentrations and Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Congenital Heart Defects

Sang Ook SO Park¹, Su Eun SE Park¹, Hyang Jae HJ Yoo¹, Young Tak YT Lim¹, Hee Ju HJ Park¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: Endothelin-1 is the most potent vasoconstrictor. This study was investigated the correlation of plasma endothelin-1 and pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart defect.
Methods
: We evaluated the concentration of ET-1 in 24 cases of congenital heart disease diagnosed at the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University, from December 1993 to September 1994. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to mean pulmonary arterial pressure: Pulmonary artery hypertension group(Group Ⅰ) and normal pulmonary artery pressure group(Group Ⅱ). Between 2 groups, there was no statistical significance in mean age, sex and oxygen saturation. GroupⅠ included 9 patients of VSD and 1 patient of COA. Group Ⅱ included 9 patients of VSD, 3 patients of TOF and 1 patient of PS, 1 patient of PS with DORV.
Results
: The results were summarized as follows; 1) The mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio (Qp/Qs), pulmonary vascular resistance in GroupⅠwere significantly higher than those in Group Ⅱ. 2) The plasma concentrations of ET-1 in GroupⅠ was significantly higher than those in Group Ⅱ. 3) But there were no statistical significance between the concentrations of ET-1 and the mean pulmonary artery pressure, Qp/QS, pulmonary vascular resistnace.
Conclusion
: Based on these results, plasma ET-1 concentraions were elevated in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart defects.

Keywords :Endothelin-1, Pulmonary hypertension, Congenital heart defect