ABSTRACT
Plasma immunoreactive endothelin [ir-ET] was measured in 20 patients with acute myocardial infarction [AMT], 20 patients with stable angina pectoris [SAP] and 20 control subjects. In patients with AMI, the plasma level of ir-ET was elevated in the first and seventh days of AMI and dropped by the 14th day to normal control levels. There was no difference between patients with SAP and control subjects. The plasma ir-ET level showed a positive correlation with wall motion abnormality index and was highest in patients in whom the Killip subset was class IV. We conclude that [1] plasma fr-ET is increased in AMI in a degree considered among other factors responsible for extension of AMI and [3] estimation of ir-ET in the acute phase can help to assess the severity and extent of AMI