Plasma endothelin-1 and cardiovascular risk among young and healthy adults

OBJECTIVES Endothelial dysfunction is a major precursor of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the interrelationships between plasma endothelin 1 (ET 1) levels and cardiovascular risk among young and healthy individuals. METHODS We performed a population based study among 2160 healthy adults aged between 25 and 41 years in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Individuals with prevalent cardiovascular disease diabetes or a body mass index >35 kg/m(2) were excluded. Plasma ET 1 was measured using a novel high sensitive single molecule counting technology. The relationships between plasma levels of ET 1 and various cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS Median age of our population was 37 years. Median ET 1 levels across ET 1 quartiles were 1.86 2.33 2.76 and 3.48 pg/mL. After multivariable adjustment there were significant correlations of ET 1 with systolic blood pressure (ß per 1 unit increase in log transformed ET 1 2.30 (95 confidence interval (CI) 1.03; 3.58 p = 0.0004) C reactive protein (ß 0.19 (95 CI 0.03; 0.34 p = 0.021) glomerular filtration rate (ß 1.73 (95 CI 3.17; 0.29 p = 0.019) and current smoking (Odds ratio 1.94 (95 CI 1.39; 2.71 p