Heart Failure Relationship Between Endothelin-1 Extraction in the Peripheral Circulation and Systemic Vascular Resistance in Patients With Severe Congestive Heart Failure

RESULTS Plasma ET-1 was significantly higher in FV than in FA in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II patients, but there was no difference of ET-1 between FA and FV in functional class III patients. In patients with functional class IV, plasma ET-1 was significantly lower in FV than in FA, and SVR was significantly higher than in patients with NYHA class II or class III. Moreover, a significant positive correlation existed between plasma ET-1 extraction across the lower leg and SVR in these patients. Among the various neurohumoral factors and hemodynamics, plasma levels of ET-1, angiotensin II in the FA showed an independent and significant relationship with the plasma arteriovenous difference of ET-1 in the lower limb.