Abstract
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor peptide. Animal studies have suggested a possible role of ET-1 in alveolar hypoxia. ET-1 may be of pathophysiological significance in the fetal as well as in the maternal circulation in pregnancies complicated with hypertension. ET-1 has been shown to induce a dose-related constriction in vitro of strips of ductus arteriosus from mature fetal lambs. It has also been shown to contract human umbilical vessels at extremely low concentrations. Its role in the newborn infant is not known.In the present study we measured plasma ET-1 levels in preterm and term infants soon after birth as well as in healthy infants and children of different ages. ET-1 was determined by a commercial radioimmunoassay kit (RIK 6071, Peninsula Laboratories Europe Ltd).The plasma levels of ET-1 were as follows (mean, range, pg/ml): preterm (<2A h) 26.8, 11.6-49.2 (n=9); term (<24 h) 19.9, 10.0-39.9 (n=10); 3 mo to 1 y 14.8, 10.2-26.6 (n=13); 2 y to 15 y 8.2, 2.9-16.7 (n=29). Preterm and term infants have relatively high plasma ET-1 levels. In the newborn infant ET-1 is a circulating hormone with possible physiological and pathophysiological roles.
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