No abstract

Background-The pulmonary circulation is an important site for the production and clearance of endothelin (ET)-1, a potent vasoactive and mitogenic peptide. In healthy individuals, 40% to 50% of circulating ET-1 is removed on each passage through the lungs resulting in an arteriovenous ratio of Ͻ1, whereas many patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have ratios Ͼ1, indicating reduced clearance or increased release of endothelin. The influence of inhaled prostanoids on endothelin clearance is unknown. Methods and Results-In a prospective investigation, plasma concentrations of big endothelin-1 (big ET-1, Elisa) were measured in 15 patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing right heart catheterization with iloprost inhalation (4 m, 11 f, aged 35 to 75 years, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm) 54Ϯ2.3 mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) 1061Ϯ141 dyn ϫ sec ϫ cm -5 ). There was a significant transpulmonary gradient for big ET-1 with 31% Ϯ11% higher concentrations in the radial artery than in the pulmonary artery (PϽ0.001). After inhalation of iloprost a significant decrease in the AV-ratio from 1.31Ϯ0.11 to 0.92Ϯ0.06 (PϽ0.007) was observed. The pulmonary net release of 3.10Ϯ0.65 pmol/min big ET-1 at baseline decreased to -1.24Ϯ1.32 pmol/min (Pϭ0.013) within 15 minutes indicating a restored balance. Patients under long-term treatment with iloprost (nϭ7) tended to have a lower net release and AV-ratio for big ET-1 than patients without pretreatment. Conclusion-An increase in pulmonary clearance of big-ET could be a mechanism contributing to the beneficial effects of inhaled prostanoids in the treatment of PAH.

The possibility of the complication of a vertebral artery lesion should be kept in mind when examining patients with cervical spine trauma, especially in patients with fracture-dislocation. Immediate identification by vertebral angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, or thin-slice computed tomography scan is necessary for optimal management of this injury.