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Low levels of plasma endothelin-1 in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

Authors Ohguro H, Mashima Y, Nakazawa M

Published 15 June 2010 Volume 2010:4 Pages 569—573

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S9152

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



Hiroshi Ohguro1, Yukihiko Mashima2, Mitsuru Nakazawa3

1Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, 2Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 3Department of Ophthalmology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the pathophysiology of retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Methods: Plasma ET-1 levels and ophthalmic features in 50 RP patients were compared with those in 20 healthy-eye control subjects. Plasma ET-1 concentrations were determined using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Results: Mean plasma ET-1 levels of RP patients (1.88 ± 0.56 pg/mL) were significantly lower than those of control subjects (2.30 ± 0.30 pg/mL, Mann-Whitney’s U test; P < 0.01). However, ET-1 concentrations varied markedly in each patient. Among RP patients, a significant correlation of ET-1 concentrations was not observed in terms of its hereditary forms or other clinical factors.

Conclusion: ET-1 may be important in the pathogenesis of RP, and measurement of its plasma concentrations may also contribute to additional insights into the retinal hemodynamics of RP.

Keywords: endothelin-1, retinitis pigmentosa, retinal hemodynamics

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