Big endothelin-1 level is a useful marker for predicting the presence of isolated coronary artery ectasia.

CONTEXT: Endothelin-1(ET-1) has been implicated in coronary artery disease (CAD) and may be associated with coronary artery ectasia (CAE).

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the relationship between big ET-1 and isolated CAE.

METHODS: We measured big ET-1 with ELISA in 216 patients (CAE, n = 72; CAD, n = 72; normal, n = 72) and evaluated the link with isolated CAE.

RESULTS: The level of plasma big ET-1 was significantly higher in patients with isolated CAE (p < 0.001). Big ET-1 was strongly and independently associated with CAE by multivariate analysis (OR 95%CI: 1.026 (1.018-1.034), p = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS: Big ET-1 may be a useful predictor for the presence of isolated CAE.