09 Jun Biomarker Endothelin-1 Associated with Pulmonary Hypertension and Heart Failure
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Mathew Jankowich
Matthew D. Jankowich, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Staff physician at the Providence VA Medical Center
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Jankowich: For some time, endothelin-1 has been known to cause vasoconstriction in the pulmonary circulation, and elevated endothelin-1 levels have been noted in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and decompensated congestive heart failure, as well as other advanced disease states. However, endothelin-1 has not been well studied in members of the general population. In our study, we examined plasma endothelin-1 levels in participants in the Jackson Heart Study and the relationship of plasma endothelin-1 levels to pulmonary hypertension, mortality and heart failure. We found increased odds of having pulmonary hypertension, defined as an echocardiography estimation of the pulmonary artery systolic pressure>40mmHg, in those participants with higher plasma endothelin-1 levels. Having higher endothelin-1 levels was also associated with an increased risk of both mortality and heart failure. Those participant with both high endothelin-1 levels (a level in the top 25%) and pulmonary hypertension were at the highest risk of mortality.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Dr. Jankowich: Endothelin-1 levels, especially when associated with an elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure on echocardiogram, may help to identify population at particularly high risk of mortality and heart failure that could be targeted for efforts at preventing these bad outcomes.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Jankowich: More studies of endothelin-1 levels and outcomes such as mortality and heart failure in the general population would give us more data about what level of endothelin-1 may define being “at risk” and would help to confirm our findings that endothelin-1 levels are important in predicting risk of adverse outcomes.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
Jankowich MD, Wu W, Choudhary G. Association of Elevated Plasma Endothelin-1 Levels With Pulmonary Hypertension, Mortality, and Heart Failure in African American Individuals: The Jackson Heart Study. JAMA Cardiol. Published online June 08, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2016.0962.
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
More Medical Research Interviews on MedicalResearch.com.
[wysija_form id=”5″]
Last Updated on June 9, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD