Whole‐body cooling increases plasma endothelin‐1 levels in women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon

• Published in: Clinical physiology (Oxford) 1998-09, Vol.18 (5), p.420-425
• Main Authors: Leppert, J., Ringqvist, Å., Karlberg, B. E., Ringqvist, I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure - physiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; cold exposure; Cold Temperature - adverse effects; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; endothelial function; Endothelin-1 - blood; endothelin‐1; Female; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Raynaud Disease - blood; Raynaud Disease - physiopathology; Raynaud's phenomenon; Smoking - physiopathology; vasospasm
• ISSN: 0144-5979; 1365-2281
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2281.1998.00105.x

To understand better the role of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) in the pathogenesis of primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP), we investigated the basal ET‐1 plasma levels and changes after whole‐body cooling in healthy women and those with PRP. The study was performed as an open parallel‐group comparison during the month of February. The Raynaud group included 21 female patients (mean age 45·3 years, range 21–57 years) who had had disabling Raynaud's phenomenon for a mean period of 17 years (range 2–26 years). The control group consisted of 25 healthy women (mean age 43·6 years, range 27–56 years). Plasma levels of ET‐1 were measured on two separate occasions: once after 30 min of rest at room temperature and after 40 min of whole‐body cooling. There were no significant differences in baseline plasma ET‐1 levels between the two groups of women. The plasma ET‐1 levels increased significantly in the PRP group after cold exposure (mean difference 0·11 pmol l−1, 95% CI 0·005–0·214, P = 0·012). In contrast, the levels of plasma ET‐1 in the control group did not change significantly after cold provocation. In conclusion, no differences in plasma basal levels of ET‐1 were observed between the two groups. However, women suffering from Raynaud's phenomenon responded with a slight but significant elevation in plasma levels of ET‐1 after whole‐body cooling, whereas the healthy control subjects did not. The results from the present study confirm previous observations that endothelial dysfunction may be of aetiological importance in PRP.