Abstract
We studied the relationship between carotid plaques and plasma endothelin-1 concentration (ET-1) in patients with essential hypertension.
A total of 212 patients (83 males, 129 females, 36-84 yr, mean age 63 yr) with essential hypertension (WHO stage I-II), and 109 age-matched control subjects (35-79 yr, mean 61 yr) were enrolled in this study. Plaque (defined as intima-media thickness 50% thicker than neibour intima-media thickness) in the both side of common carotid artery and the both side of internal carotid artery were measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Plaques were classified into soft plaque (without calcification) and hard plaque (with calcification) . ET-1 was measured by enzyme immunoassay.
ET-1 levels were significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in control subjects. The frequency of plaque in patients with high ET-1 levels (ET-1≥1.71 pg/ml) was signficantly higher than those with normal ET-1 levels (ET-1<1.71 pg/ml) . The frequency of soft plaque in patients with high ET-1 levels was signficantly higher than those with normal ET-1 levels. But there was no difference between the frequency of hard plaque in patients with high ET-1 levels and that with normal ET-1 levels.
These results indicate that high ET-1 levels with essential hypertension may play a role in the progression of carotid plaque without calcification.
