Plasma Adrenomedullin Levels Are Elevated in Pediatric Patients with Severe Sickle Cell Anemia

• Published in: Blood 2008-11, Vol.112 (11), p.4795-4795
• Main Authors: Piccin, Andrea, Murphy, Ciaran, Eakins, Elva, Murphy, William, Kunde, Jan, McMahon, Corrina, Smith, Owen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood.V112.11.4795.4795

Nitric Oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) are key modulators of endothelial vessels and actively participate in the pathophysiology of vaso-occlusive events. Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an important model for the study of blood cells/endothelium interactions. In SCA vaso-occlusive events may be severe and cumulative. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a strong hypotension-inducer and mediates diuresis, natriuresis and vasodilation. Adrenomedullin levels are raised in chronic cardiovascular conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of adrenomedullin in SCA and its relationship to endothelin-1 and nitric oxide. A cohort of 111 children with HbSS SCA was studied with 18 age-matched controls of sub-Sahara African ethnicity. The patients were in four clinical groups: steady state (n=55, mean age 5.3 years),patients undergoing chest crisis (n=9, mean age 5.3 years),on hydroxyurea (n=30, mean age 7.2 years),on transfusion therapy (n=17, mean age 6.5 years). A third cohort of patients with HbSC genotype (n=13, mean age 6 years) all in steady state was also included. Pro-adrenomedullin and c-terminal endothelin-1 precursor (CT-proET-1) were measured by coated tube assays according to the method by Morgenthaler et al ( Clin Chem. 2005; 51:1823–29) and Papassotiriou et al ( Clin Chem. 2006; 52(6):1144–51), nitric oxide was quantified according to the Griess reaction. Results (median and interquartile range) are shown in table 1. Overall pro-adrenomedullin levels were raised in chest crisis: 0.38 nmol/l (0.31–0.49) vs steady state: 0.27 nmol/l (0.25–0.32; p