The survey and comparison of ET-1 level in scleroderma ‎patients with and without pitting ulcer‎

Scleroderma is a systemic disorder with unknown etiology ‎most notably characterized by skin thickening and damage of organs. ‎Endothelin-1(ET-1) play a role in skin fibrosis. The aim of this study was ‎survey and comparison of ET-1level in systematic sclerosis (SSc) patients ‎with and without scar pitting ulcer ‎ A cross-sectional analytical study conducted ‎among the 95 paitient with scleroderma in 2006 who were refereed to the ‎Rheumatology clinic in Shariati hospital of Tehran. Questionnaire was ‎completed and level of endothelin-1was measured in them. The data ‎analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests. ‏ ‎‏ ‏The result indicated, relationship among pitting ulcer and ulcer ‎scar with level of Endothelin-1 were significant. We couldn’t find any ‎significant relationships between age and level of Endothelin-1. These data indicate Endothelin-1 plasma level in ‎scleroderma patient with pitting ulcer was higher than patient without ‎pitting ulcer. Thus, increase of ET-1 plasma level could be effective in ‎vascular damage, fibrosis and skin thickness. ‎