ABSTRACT
Endothelin is an endogenous vasoconstrictor and plays an important role in pathogenesis of Raynaud's phenomenon. Plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) concentrations following cold exposure in 52 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon were measured. Statistically significant increase of ET-1 and vWF was found in the study group in compare to healthy volunteers. There was positive correlation between ET-1 and vWF in those cases. The dates suggest that ET-changes indicates a vasospastic effect on vascular injury. Treatment with endothelin-receptor antagonist may prevent structural changes in vessel well.
Subject(s)
Endothelin-1/blood , Endothelium, Vascular/physiopathology , Raynaud Disease/blood , Raynaud Disease/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , von Willebrand Factor/analysisABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 is a very strong risk factor for atherosclerosis. The final event of atherosclerosis is the vessels occlusion by platelet riche thrombus. Platelets adhesion and aggregation is mediated by interaction between platelets glycoproteins: GPIb-IX, GPIIb-IIIa and adhesive proteins: von Willebrand factor or fibrinogen. The expression of platelets GPIb-IX, GPIIb-IIIa, plasma vWF, fibrinogen concentrations were evaluated in 40 patients with diabetes type 2 (22 patients with PAOD stage II and IV according to Fontain, 18 diabetics without paod) and 32 healthy individuals. The expression of platelets glycoproteins GPIIb-IIIa and GPIb-IX was estimated by ELISA using monoclonal antibody against GPIIb-IIIa (CD41a) and GPIb-IX (CD 42a Immunotech). Plasma vWf (189.7 +/- 53.6%), fibrinogen (4.5 +/- +/- 1.3 g/l) level and expression of platelets GPIb-IX (63.2 +/- 19.6% in platelets concentration 125,000/mm3, 104.5 +/- 28.1% in platelets concentrations 250,000/mm3) and GPIIb-IIIa 50.8 +/- 10.1% in platelets concentrations 125,000/mm3, 95.3 +/- 21.3% in platelets concentrations 250,000/mm3 were statistically higher in patients with diabetes type 2 than in controls (vWf: 94.9 +/- 27.1%, fibrinogen: 2.8 +/- 0.4 g/l, GPIb-IX in platelets concentration 125,000/mm3: 43.8 +/- 9.3%, in concentration 250,000/mm3: 83.9 +/- 18.3%, GPIIb-IIIa in platelets concentration 125,000/mm3: 33.7 +/- 10.1%, in platelets concentration 250,000/mm3: 63.2 +/- 15.4%). We found significant correlation between the expression of GPIIb-IIIa, GPIb-IIIa, GPIb-IX and plasma adhesive proteins: vWF, fibrinogen in controls and both subgroups of diabetic patients. The correlation between plasma vWF and fibrinogen level and degree of arterial insufficiency in diabetic patients was also found. We can assume that higher vWf, fibrinogen plasma level in diabetic patients with and without PAOD could account for high expression of platelets GPIIb-IIIa and GPIb-IX.
Subject(s)
Arteriosclerosis/blood , Blood Platelets/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Fibrinogen/analysis , von Willebrand Factor/analysis , Adult , Aged , Arteriosclerosis/complications , Chronic Disease , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex/analysis , Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex/analysisABSTRACT
In order to find an objective marker of disease intensity, neutrophil elastase activity was determined in patients with ulcerative colitis. The study included 41 patients with ulcerative colitis who were divided into two groups depending on tge stage of the disease on the basis of the activity index according to Maier et al. The obtained results of studies were compared a group of 18 healthy persons. The values of neutrophil elastase activity in the patients and in the control group were subjected to statistical analysis. It was found that neutrophil elastase activity in the patients with high degree of disease intensity was lower than that in the patients with low degree of disease intensity and in healthy subjects. The obtained differences were statistically significant. From the results of the study the conclusion was drawn that the neutrophil elastase activity may be an indicator of ulcerative colitis activity.
