We determined aortic plasma endothelin (ET-1) concentration in juvenile pigs during six hours after acute lung injury induced by meconium aspiration. Twelve 10 week-old pigs received 3 ml/kg 20% human meconium via endotracheal tube. Six pigs were pretreated with 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone i.v. known to attenuate the acute lung injury. Another six pigs served as controls and received endotracheally 3 ml/kg sterile saline. Ventilator settings were adjusted to avoid hypoxemia.
Meconium aspiration induced a biphasic increase in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) during the 6 hour observation period. A simultaneous biphasic increase detected in ET-1 concentration. Further, this increase correlated well with the increase in PVR(r=0.76). In contrast, endothelin concentration tended to decrease in the control group.
Methylprednisolone prevented significantly the second phase (1-6h) progressive rise in PAP, PVR, and ET-1. However, the decrease in ET-1 concentration was not statistically significant when compared to the meconium group.
We conclude, that meconium aspiration induces an acute lung injury characterized by a biphasic hypertensive pulmonary response and an increase in endothelin concentration suggesting an inportant role of this vasoactive mediator in the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
(Spon. by Olli Simell).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Soukka, H., Kero, P. & Kääpä, P. BIPHASIC INCREASE IN PLASMA ENDOTHELIN CONCENTRATION AND PULMONARY VASCULAR RESISTANCE AFTER MECONIUM ASPIRATION IN PIGS. 2087. Pediatr Res 39 (Suppl 4), 350 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199604001-02111
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199604001-02111