Abstract
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent hypotensive peptide newly discovered in pheochromocytoma tissue by monitoring its elevating effect on platelet cAMP. However, the possibility of AM acting as a new circulating hormone which participate in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) has never been investigated. We measured the plasma concentration of AM in patients with CVD by our recently established highly sensitive and specific RIA. The study population consisted of 22 patients with occlusive CVD and 8 patients with hemorrhagic CVD. The plasma AM during the acute stage was increased in the patients with occlusive CVD (37.0 ± 56.9 fmol/ml) as compared to those with hemorrhagic CVD (10.7 ± 6.2 fmol/ml). The increase in plasma AM during the acute stage was more prominent in patients with a Japan Coma Scale (JCS) of 100-300 than in patients with a JCS of 0-30. The time course of the AM levels in both occlusive CVD and hemorrhagic CVD indicated that that the values during the subacute stage were higher than those during both the acute stage and chronic stage. In conclusion, based on its potent vasodilator effect. AM may be involved in the pathogenesis of CVD.
