Clinical diagnostic value of determination of plasma endothelin and nitric oxide contents in patients with coronary heart disease

Objective: To study the clinical diagnostic value of determination of plasma endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) contents in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: Plasma ET (with RIA) and NO (with biochemistry) contents were determined in 86 patients with angiographically documented CHD and 60 subjects without CHD (also by coronal angiography) as controls. Results: Plasma ET concentrations were significantly higher in CHD patients (P<0.01), while plasma NO concentrations were significantly lower in CHD patients (P<0.01) than those in controls. Plasma ET levels were significantly negatively correlated with those of plasma NO (P<0.01). Conclusion: Combined detection of plasma ET and NO may improve the diagnosis of CHD. (authors)