ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the immunostaining of endothelin-1(ET-1) and von Willebrand factor(vWF) in pulmonary vascular of ventricular septal defect(VSD) with pulmonary hypertension(PH),and the possible roles of ET-1 and vWF in the development of PH and remodeling in pulmonary artery.Methods VSD with non-PH were choosed as control group,20 cases with VSD with PH were divided into Ⅰgroup and Ⅱgroup according to mean pulmonary artery pressure. The specimens from middle lobe of right lung was obtained and stained by immunohistochemical technique.The degree of immunoreaction was measured with light density.Results The light density of ET-1 and vWF in small pulmonary arteries had significant statistical difference between every group,and Ⅱgroup was higher than those of Ⅰgroup,but no difference in small pulmonary veins.In every group,the light density of ET-1 and vWF had significant difference between small pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins.There were statistical correlation among mean pulmonary pressure,VSD/A,ET-1 and vWF.Conclusions ET-1 and vWF are concerned with the development of PH and mediate pulmonary vascular remodeling.The data of small pulmonary veins suggest that the main origin of ET-1 in pulmonary tissue is small pulmonary artery.