Serum endothelin-1 concentrations and cold provocation in primary Raynaud's phenomenon

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Endothelin-1 in the context of raynaud's in this controlled clinical trial publication.

Baseline serum ET-1 levels (pg/ml), as measured by radioimmunoassay, were three times higher in Raynaud's subjects (5.3 [SEM 1.7] pg/ml) than in controls (1.7 [0.3]).

With progressive local cooling digital arterial pulsatility, as measured by plethysmography, fell earlier and to a greater extent in Raynaud's subjects than in controls, with a half-maximum decrement in pulsatility occurring at 27 [2.6] degrees C and 18 [0.5] degrees C, respectively.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 7 subjects taking part.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, women only.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a parallel-group study.

The Endothelin-1 group and the comparison group ran side by side rather than switching.

What Was Measured

Baseline serum ET-1 levels (pg/ml), as measured by radioimmunoassay, were three times higher in Raynaud's subjects (5.3 [SEM 1.7] pg/ml) than in controls (1.7 [0.3]).

With progressive local cooling digital arterial pulsatility, as measured by plethysmography, fell earlier and to a greater extent in Raynaud's subjects than in controls, with a half-maximum decrement in pulsatility occurring at 27 [2.6] degrees C and 18 [0.5] degrees C, respectively.

The subject headings attached to it are Body Temperature, Cold Temperature, Endothelins, Pulse, Radioimmunoassay, Raynaud Disease and Vasoconstriction.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a parallel-group study of Endothelin-1 in 7 subjects in people with raynaud's.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1990 (Lancet (London, England)), a journal based in England.

More context: the Endothelin-1 compound page, Raynaud's research.