Jacek Skiendzielewski, Bożena Werner1. 1. Department of Paediatric Cardiology and General Paediatrics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. bozena.werner@litewska.edu.pl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Haemodynamic disturbances due to ventricular septal defect (VSD) can lead to heart failure (HF) and cause neurohormonal activation. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) clearance takes place mainly in the pulmonary circulation. We hypothesized that increased pulmonary blood flow in children with VSD could influence ET-1 level and reflect haemodynamic disturbances in these patients. AIM: To analyse usefulness of plasma ET-1 level in the evaluation of HF severity in infants with VSD without pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: The study group included 34 children (aged 38-338 days, mean 130 ± 81 days) with VSD. Evaluation included history, physical examination, ET-1 level measurement, standard 12-lead electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, and transthoracic echocardiography in all children. The control group consisted of 31 healthy children. RESULTS: Mean plasma ET-1 level was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the study group compared to the control group. We found no significant difference (p > 0.05) in mean plasma ET-1 level between children with or without HF. No significant correlation was found between plasma ET-1 level and the severity of HF. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with VSD show higher ET-1 level compared to healthy children. Plasma ET-1 level does not reflect the severity of HF in infants with VSD.
BACKGROUND:Haemodynamic disturbances due to ventricular septal defect (VSD) can lead to heart failure (HF) and cause neurohormonal activation. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) clearance takes place mainly in the pulmonary circulation. We hypothesized that increased pulmonary blood flow in children with VSD could influence ET-1 level and reflect haemodynamic disturbances in these patients. AIM: To analyse usefulness of plasma ET-1 level in the evaluation of HF severity in infants with VSD without pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: The study group included 34 children (aged 38-338 days, mean 130 ± 81 days) with VSD. Evaluation included history, physical examination, ET-1 level measurement, standard 12-lead electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, and transthoracic echocardiography in all children. The control group consisted of 31 healthy children. RESULTS: Mean plasma ET-1 level was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the study group compared to the control group. We found no significant difference (p > 0.05) in mean plasma ET-1 level between children with or without HF. No significant correlation was found between plasma ET-1 level and the severity of HF. CONCLUSIONS:Infants with VSD show higher ET-1 level compared to healthy children. Plasma ET-1 level does not reflect the severity of HF in infants with VSD.
Authors: Benjamin Steven Frank; Tracy T Urban; Suhong Tong; Courtney Cassidy; Max B Mitchell; Christopher S Nichols; Jesse A Davidson Journal: World J Cardiol Date: 2017-12-26