Published Online
on February 24, 2003

A more recent version of this article appeared on March 25, 2003

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Submitted on October 18, 2002
Revised on December 16, 2002
Accepted on December 17, 2002

Influence of Inhaled Iloprost on Transpulmonary Gradient of Big Endothelin in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension

H. Wilkens MD^*, M. Bauer MD, N. Forestier , J. König MD, A. Eichler MD, S. Schneider , H. J. Schäfers MD, and G. W. Sybrecht MD

From Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Innere Medizin V (H.W., N.F., A.E., G.W.S.), Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin (M.B., S.S.); Abteilung Thorax- und Herz-Gefäßchirurgie (H.J.S.); and the Institut für Medizinische Biometrie (J.K.), Epidemiologie und Medizinische Informatik, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: inhwil{at}med-rz.uni-saarland.de.

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 <1, whereas many patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have ratios >1, indicating reduced clearance or increased release of endothelin. The influence of inhalative 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) 54±2.3 mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) 1061±141 dyn x sec x cm^-5). There was a significant transpulmonary gradient for big ET-1 with 31% ±11% higher concentrations in the radial artery than in the pulmonary artery (P<0.001). After inhalation of iloprost a significant decrease in the AV-ratio from 1.31±0.11 to 0.92±0.06 (P<0.007) was observed. The pulmonary net release of 3.10±0.65 pmol/min big ET-1 at baseline decreased to -1.24±1.32 pmol/min (P=0.013) within 15 minutes indicating a restored balance. Patients under long-term treatment with iloprost (n=7) 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.

Key words: hypertension • pulmonary • endothelin • prostaglandins

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