The significance of dynamic change of plasma endothelin level in epidemic hemorrhagic fever
Yang, B.; Ma, Y.; Liu, C.
Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 34(6): 396-399
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0578-1426 PMID: 8582188 Document Number: 452149
One hundred and twenty nine hospitalized cases of epidemic hemorrhagic fever (EHF) diagnosed and classified according to the protocol of prevention and treatment of this disease approved by the Ministry of Health in 1987 were studied to ascertain the role of endothelin (ET) in the etiology. 30 healthy adult subjects residing in the same area served as control. Blood samples were collected and plasma ET level was measured with radioimmunoassay and its dynamic change noted. It is shown that plasma ET level of the EHF patients was higher in febrile, hypotensive or shock, oliguric and transitional stages than that of controls. However, the level returned to normal in polyuric stage. Plasma ET level was also highly positively correlated with that of Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) and beta 2 microglobulin. The higher the level of plasma ET, the poorer the ontcome. It is suggested that ET plays an important role in the epidemiology of EHF and monitoring of plasma ET level will be of help not only in predicting the prognosis, but also in guiding the clinical therapy.