Circulating endothelin-3 levels in patients with sickle cell disease during hydroxyurea treatment

Abstract

Abnormal adhesion of red blood cells to the endothelium and the production of cytokines and vasoactive substances, such as endothelin-1 contribute to the pathogenesis of microvascular occlusion in sickle cell disease (SCD), even during the steady state. Endothelin-3 (ET-3) is a vasoconstrictive agent, which has not yet been studied in SCD.