Value of endothelinª²1, homocysteine and lipoprotein a for early diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism

    LI Jian, QI Haoª²Wen, LI Shengª²Qing

    Department of Respiratory Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To study the changes of plasma endothelinª²1 (ETª²1), homocysteine (Hcy) and serum lipoprotein a (LPa) before and after pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in rabbits and to evaluate their values as serologic markers for early diagnosis of PTE. METHODS: Thirty rabbits were divided randomly into 2 groups: the control group and the PTE group, with 15 rabbits in each group. Rabbit PTE models were established by injection of autoª²blood clots into the jugular vein. The changes of the contents of ETª²1, Hcy in plasma and LPa in serum were measured at different time points before and after PTE. The formation and distribution of thrombosis were observed at pulmonary dissection under microscopy after PTE. RESULTS: The injected blood clots were found in the pulmonary arteries and the hemorrhagic infarct and bleeding points were observed in the PTE group. Growth of endomembrane cells into the surface of the thrombosis, endotheliosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed by microscopy. The concentration of plasma ETª²1 in PTE group increased significantly from 1h after PTE compared with that in control group (P<0.05). The concentration of LPa and Hcy in blood were significantly elevated 24h after PTE (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ETª²1, LPa and Hcy are involved in the early phase of PTE and can be used as serologic markers for early diagnosis of PTE. ......