Decrease in Endothelin-1 Plasma Levels during the Menstrual Cycle and after Ethinylestradiol Treatment
Authors: Gabriele S. Merki-Feld, Paul J. Keller
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters7 September 1999Decrease in Endothelin-1 Plasma Levels during the Menstrual Cycle and after Ethinylestradiol TreatmentGabriele S. Merki-Feld, MD and Paul J. Keller, MDGabriele S. Merki-Feld, MDUniversity Hospital; Zurich, Switzerland (Merki-Feld)University Hospital; Zurich, Switzerland (Keller) and Paul J. Keller, MDUniversity Hospital; Zurich, Switzerland (Merki-Feld)University Hospital; Zurich, Switzerland (Keller)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-5-199909070-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The endothelium regulates vascular tone and growth by releasing factors such as endothelin-1 and nitric oxide (1). Impaired endothelial function and elevated levels of endothelin-1 contribute substantially to cardiovascular disorders (2-4). Oral contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk (5). It is not known whether this risk is caused by changes in endothelium-derived factors.We investigated whether 7-day therapy with ethinylestradiol, 50 µg/d, causes changes in the potent vasoconstrictor endothelin-1. Participants were 10 healthy premenopausal women (mean age, 32.4 years). Three fasting blood samples for the measurements of endothelin-1, progesterone, and estradiol levels were ...References1. Furchgott RF, Vanhoutte PM. Endothelium-derived relaxing and contracting factors. FASEB J. 1989;3:2007-18. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Luescher TF, Barton M. Biology of the endothelium. Clin Cardiol. 1997;20 Suppl 2 3-10. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Saito Y, Nakao K, Mukoyama M, Imura H. Increased plasma endothelin level in patients with essential hypertension [Letter]. N Engl J Med. 1990;322:205. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Levin ER. Endothelins. N Engl J Med. 1995;333:356-63. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Thorogood M, Vessey PM. An epidemiologic survey of cardiovascular disease in women taking oral contraceptives. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1990;163:274-81. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University Hospital; Zurich, Switzerland (Merki-Feld)University Hospital; Zurich, Switzerland (Keller) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByEndothelin: 30 Years From Discovery to TherapyDepot-Medroxyprogesterone Acetate and Endothelial Function Before and After Acute Oral, Vaginal, and Transdermal Estradiol TreatmentEndothelial function, endothelin-1, and fibrinogen in young women using the vaginal contraceptive ringEstradiol in Premenstrual Asthma: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover StudyLong-term effects of combined oral contraceptives on markers of endothelial function and lipids in healthy premenopausal women 7 September 1999Volume 131, Issue 5Page: 394KeywordsBloodBlood plasmaEndotheliumEstradiolEstrogensGrowth factorsMenstrual cycleNitric oxideOral contraceptive therapyProgesterone Issue Published: 7 September 1999 CopyrightCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...