A CASE OF BRONCHOPLEURAL FISTULA DETECTED BY MONITORING PLASMA ENDOTHELIN-1

Levels of endothelin (ET)-1 peptide are transiently increased after ma jor physical stress. While studying sequential changes in plasma ET-1 levels during various types of stress, we noticed that the level of pl asma ET-1 began to rise 10 days postoperatively in one patient with lu ng cancer who had undergone a left lower lobectomy. 35 days postoperat ively a bronchopleural fistula became clinically manifest, The case is presented and the use of plasma ET-1 as an indicator is discussed.