[Increased plasma levels of endothelin in patints with essential arterial hypertension].

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictive peptide. In this study the Authors measured in 25 subjects (15 with essential hypertension and 10 normal) plasma levels of endothelin-1. Patients with hypertension had significantly higher plasma ET-1 concentration than normal subjects (2.18 +/- 1.07 vs. 1.36 +/- 0.40 pg/ml, p < 0.02). Plasma arginine vasopressin, renin activity and aldosterone concentration did not show significant differences between hypertensive and normotensive subjects. These data suggest that ET-1 may be involved in the development or maintenance of hypertension.