Relationship between endothelin-1 levels and pulmonary arterial hypertension in HIV-infected patients

摘要

Objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, fatal disease with average survival of less than 3 years if left untreated. It is most common in patients infected with HIV. Although the pathogenesis in this population is not fully understood, it is thought that HIV infection, through the immune response and release of different inflammatory mediators such as endothelin-1, may contribute directly to endothelial damage. Our objective was to quantify endothelin-1 levels in HIV-infected patients and determine whether or not there is an association between this marker and PAH.