Endothelin-1 Serum Concentration in Pediatric Chronic Idiopathic Uveitis

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of our study was to determine endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentration in chronic idiopathic uveitis in children and adolescents depending on anatomical location and grade of inflammation.

Methods

The cross-sectional study was conducted among 17 patients with chronic idiopathic uveitis and 22 healthy controls. Concentration of ET-1 in serum was determined using a commercially available ELISA kit. The concentration of C reactive protein (CRP) in serum was determined by immunoturbidimetric method using CRP4 reagent kit (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany).

Results

Statistically significant difference between ET-1 concentration in patients with chronic idiopathic uveitis and controls was found 1.33 (1.22; 1.48) vs 1.93 (1.1; 3.11), p = 0.008). No correlations were found between ET-1 concentration and age, either in chronic idiopathic uveitis patients or controls. Nine out of 17 patients presented with anterior uveitis, 5 with posterior and 3 with panuveitis. There were no differences in ET-1 concentration between anterior, posterior and panuveitis (p = 0.634), and in terms of grade of inflammation.

Conclusion

ET-1 expression is disturbed in pediatric chronic idiopathic uveitis irrespective of the anatomical location and grade of inflammation. Lower expression of ET-1 plays a crucial role in disturbed vascular tone control and can result in permanent visual impairment in chronic non-infectious uveitis.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• children
• chronic idiopathic uveitis
• endothelin-1

Abbreviations

AAU, acute anterior uveitis; ET-1, endothelin-1; ETA, endothelin receptor A; ETB, endothelin receptor B; GCs, glucocorticosteroids; IL, interleukin; NO, nitric oxide; NF, nuclear factor; SUN, Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature; ST2, suppression of tumorigenicity 2; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; TSLP, thymic stromal lymphopoietin; VD, vascular dysregulation; VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cells.

Data Sharing Statement

The original data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon request.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Pediatric University Hospital in Bialystok for assistance in conducting the study. This study was supported but not funded by the Medical University of Bialystok.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.