HAEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS AND PR0GNOSTIC VALUE OF PlASMA ENDOTHELIN LEVEL IN CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

Abstract

This study was done in a trial to corrdate the plasma Endothelin level with the degree of heart failure.

Also a trial was made to assess the value of Endothelin as a prognostic marker in these cases.

Twenty cases diagnosed clinically and with the aid of echocardiography as dilated cardiomyopathy whether ischemic or non­ ischemic were the subjects for this study. Ten normal volunteers were used as controls.

Any patient showing clinical or laboratory signs of hepatic, renal & thyroid abnormality were excluded from this study. Any patient showing clinical echocardiographic or electrocardiographic evidence of valvular heart disease or malignant arrhythmia was also excluded.

Patients were classified clinically according to New York Heart Association functional class criteria. All patients were subjected to invasive haemodynamic study. Plasma Endothelin level was estimated on admission, at the peak of improvement or deterioration and at the follow up period.

The results showed definite relation between Plasma Endothelin level and heart failure. Also a definite relation between the degree of heart failure and that substance was found; the more the Plasma Endothelin level the worse the case, whether assessment was made by the clinical signs, echocardiography or haemodynamic study.

It was observed that the more the time of heart failure the more the accuracy of this relation.