Venous plasma levels of endothelin-1 are not altered immediately after nitroglycerin infusion in healthy subjects

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial paper looks at Endothelin-1.

Endothelin-1 and nitric oxide play an important regulatory role in the control of vascular smooth muscle tone.

Nitroglycerin (NTG), a nitric oxide donating drug, may inhibit endothelin production.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 12 subjects were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, both men and women.

In this double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study, plasma levels of endothelin-1 were measured before and immediately (5-30 s) after 80 min infusion of NTG (glyceryl trinitrate) or saline in 12 healthy subjects.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

The subjects were allocated by chance, so the Endothelin-1 group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Blinding on both sides kept the subjects and researchers unaware of who received Endothelin-1.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Endothelin-1 could be set against what happens without it.

Each person switched between Endothelin-1 and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

During the infusion blood pressure and heart rate were measured.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Blood Pressure, Endothelins, Heart Rate, Nitric Oxide and Nitroglycerin.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Endothelin-1 in 12 subjects.

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 1995 (European journal of clinical pharmacology), a journal based in Germany.

More context: the Endothelin-1 compound page, all human trials.