@article{3083203,
    title = "Endothelin-1 in children with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
and hypertension",
    author = "Nicolaidou, P and Georgouli, H and Matsinos, Y and Psychou, F and and Messaritaki, A and Gourgiotis, D and Zeis, P",
    journal = "Pediatrics International",
    year = "2003",
    volume = "45",
    number = "1",
    pages = "35-38",
    publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia",
    issn = "1328-8067, 1442-200X",
    doi = "10.1046/j.1442-200X.2003.01661.x",
    keywords = "acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis; Endothelin-1; hypertension",
    abstract = "Background : Endothelin-1 (ET-1), the most potent vasoconstrictor
peptide, is known to play a role in arterial hypertension. In patients
with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) an increase in
the production of ET-1 is suspected due to damaged endothelium, platelet
activation and increased thrombin production in the glomeruli. The aim
of the present study was to investigate whether the levels of plasma
ET-1 are elevated in children with APSGN. Furthermore, we examined the
association between plasma ET-1 levels and blood pressure levels in the
same children.
Methods : We studied 18 children (14 boys) with APSGN (mean age
7.44+/-2.82 years). Fourteen healthy children served as controls. The
following parameters were evaluated: plasma ET-1, plasma atrial
natriuretic peptide (ANP), plasma renin (Rn), serum aldosterone (Aldo),
creatinine clearance (Ccr) and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa).
Results : The mean plasma ET-1 concentrations were higher in patients
with APSGN (3.39+/-1.86 pg/mL) compared to controls (1.40+/-0.15 pg/mL;
P =0.0001). Patients with APSGN also had higher plasma ANP
concentrations (41.67+/-27.99 pg/mL) than the controls (22.80+/-4.24
pg/mL; P =0.011). Plasma Rn concentrations were lower in patients
(24.54+/-16.34 muU/mL) compared to controls (56.76+/-32.36 muU/mL; P
=0.027). A positive correlation was found between ET-1 plasma
concentrations and the height of systolic or diastolic blood pressure (r
=0.57, P =0.013 and r =0.53, P =0.023, respectively).
Conclusions : Our results suggest that increased plasma ET-1
concentrations may play an important role in the pathogenesis of
hypertension in children with acute poststreptococcal
glomerulonephritis."
}