Clinical science
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The endothelin-1 receptor antagonist bosentan protects against ischaemia/reperfusion-induced endothelial dysfunction in humans.
Endothelial dysfunction may contribute to the extent of ischaemia/reperfusion injury. ET (endothelin)-1 receptor antagonism protects against myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury in animal models. The present study investigated whether oral administration of an ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist protects against ischaemia/reperfusion-induced endothelial dysfunction in humans. ⋯ The vaso-constrictor response induced by intra-arterial infusion of ET-1 was attenuated significantly by bosentan (P<0.001). The results suggest that the dual ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist bosentan attenuates ischaemia/reperfusion-induced endothelial dysfunction in humans in vivo. Bosentan may thus be a feasible therapeutic agent in the treatment of ischaemia/reperfusion injury in humans.