Study of CGRP and ET-1 in pericardiac fluid of patients with pericardiac effusion

AIM To investigate the relationship between cardiac function, volume of pericardiac fluid (PF) and ET-1 and CGRP in the PF of patients with pericardiac effusion. METHODS The volume of PF was measured by echocariography in 35 patients with pericardiac effusion (NYHA class Ⅲ, Ⅳ). ET-1 and CGRP levels in PF and serum were detected by RIA and compared with those in serum in 30 healthy subjects. RESULTS Both ET-1 and CGRP levels in PF were significantly higher than those in serum (P<0.01) in patients with pericardiac effusion and the serum ET-1 and CGRP levels in patents with pericardiac effusion were significantly higher than those in control group. ET-1 and CGRP levels in PF and serum were related to the cardiac function (P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively). ET-1 and CGRP levels were positively related to the volume of PF (r=0.43, 0.38, respectively, P<0.05). CONCLUSION ET-1 and CGRP levels in PF are closely related to the cardiac function and the volume of PF in patients with pericardiac effusion.