Adrenomedullin is a novel hypotensive peptide originally isolated from human pheochromocytoma. Accumulating evidence suggests the possible involvement of adrenomedullin in the physiology of the pulmonary circulation and the pathophysiology of hypoxaemia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathophysiological significance of adrenomedullin in hypoxaemia caused by congenital cyanotic heart disease. Subjects were 16 patients with congenital cyanotic heart disease aged 0.8–10 years (Group C) and 12 age-matched control subjects (patients with coronary artery dilatation after Kawasaki disease; Group N). Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations were measured, using radioimmunoassay, in femoral venous, pulmonary arterial and pulmonary venous blood obtained during cardiac catheterization. Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations in Group C were significantly (3-fold) higher than those in Group N at all sampling sites. In Group C, plasma adrenomedullin concentrations in pulmonary venous blood were significantly lower than those in pulmonary arterial blood. Pulmonary uptake of adrenomedullin in Group C was significantly greater than that in Group N. Patients with congenital cyanotic heart disease showed elevated plasma adrenomedullin concentrations and an increased uptake of adrenomedullin in the pulmonary circulation, which may act to dilate pulmonary vessels and increase pulmonary blood flow to alleviate hypoxaemia. Intrinsically increased adrenomedullin levels may function as a compensatory mechanism for hypoxaemia in congenital cyanotic heart disease.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
April 20 1999
Elevated plasma levels of adrenomedullin in congenital cyanotic heart disease
Muneo YOSHIBAYASHI;
*Department of Pediatrics, National Cardiovascular Center, 5-7-1, Fujishirodai, Suita 565, Japan
Correspondence: Dr. M. Yoshibayashi, Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin, Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
Tetsuro KAMIYA;
Tetsuro KAMIYA
*Department of Pediatrics, National Cardiovascular Center, 5-7-1, Fujishirodai, Suita 565, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
Toshio NISHIKIMI;
Toshio NISHIKIMI
†Research Institute, National Cardiovascular Center, 5-7-1, Fujishirodai, Suita 565, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
Yoshihiko SAITO;
Yoshihiko SAITO
†Research Institute, National Cardiovascular Center, 5-7-1, Fujishirodai, Suita 565, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
Hisayuki MATSUO;
Hisayuki MATSUO
†Research Institute, National Cardiovascular Center, 5-7-1, Fujishirodai, Suita 565, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
Kenji KANGAWA
Kenji KANGAWA
†Research Institute, National Cardiovascular Center, 5-7-1, Fujishirodai, Suita 565, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 1999
1999
Clin Sci (Lond) (1999) 96 (6): 543–547.
Citation
Muneo YOSHIBAYASHI, Tetsuro KAMIYA, Toshio NISHIKIMI, Yoshihiko SAITO, Hisayuki MATSUO, Kenji KANGAWA; Elevated plasma levels of adrenomedullin in congenital cyanotic heart disease. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 June 1999; 96 (6): 543–547. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0960543
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.