RESUMO
PURPOSE: Endothelin-1 is the most potent vasoconstrictor. This study was investigated the correlation of plasma endothelin-1 and pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart defect. METHODS: We evaluated the concentration of ET-1 in 24 cases of congenital heart disease diagnosed at the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University, from December 1993 to September 1994. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to mean pulmonary arterial pressure: Pulmonary artery hypertension group(Group I) and normal pulmonary artery pressure group(Group II). Between 2 groups, there was no statistical significance in mean age, sex and oxygen saturation. GroupI included 9 patients of VSD and 1 patient of COA. Group II included 9 patients of VSD, 3 patients of TOF and 1 patient of PS, 1 patient of PS with DORV. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows; 1) The mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio (Qp/Qs), pulmonary vascular resistance in GroupIwere significantly higher than those in Group II. 2) The plasma concentrations of ET-1 in GroupI was significantly higher than those in Group II. 3) But there were no statistical significance between the concentrations of ET-1 and the mean pulmonary artery pressure, Qp/QS, pulmonary vascular resistnace. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, plasma ET-1 concentraions were elevated in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart defects.