Plasma endothelin-1 levels and circulating endothelial cells in patients with aortoarteritis

To investigate the correlation between plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), circulat ing endothelial cells (CECs), and the disease activity in patients with aor toarteritis. In this study, radioimmunoassay was used to measure plasma lev els of ET-1 in 56 patients with aortoarteritis, Circulating endothelial cel l counts were also carried out as an indicator of vessel wall lesions, The plasma levels of ET-1 and CECs in the active disease patient group were sig nificantly higher than those in inactive patient group (p<0.001), A signifi cant positive correlation was found between plasma ET-1 levels and erythroc yte sedimentation rates (ESRs) in patients with aortoarteritis (r=0.645, p< 0.001), as well as CECs (r=0.876, p<0.001). These results suggested that th e ET-1 secreted during the active stages of aortoarteritis may cause constr iction and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of luminal narrowing, The increased CECs might serve a s a marker of disease activity.