Plasma Endothelin-1 Levels in Patients with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

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Abstract
Vascular endothelial damage plays an important part in the pathophysiology of disseminated intravascular coagulation.1 , 2 It may mediate a variety of triggering events to initiate intravascular coagulation and platelet aggregation, which in turn lead to further endothelial destruction. Recently, a potent vasoconstrictor peptide, endothelin-1, has been isolated from the culture medium of vascular endothelial cells.3 Endothelin-1 is present in human plasma, and its levels are elevated in certain pathologic states.4 , 5 To determine whether endothelin-1 is of importance in disseminated intravascular coagulation, we measured circulating levels of endothelin-1 and big endothelin-1, a precursor peptide of endothelin-1, in patients with this disorder.