Three-year change in endothelin-1 and markers of vascular remodelling in a bi-ethnic South African cohort: the SABPA study

South Africans are at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Endothelin-1 is known for its vasoconstrictive properties and its ability to contribute to vascular structural changes. In this study we investigated the association of change in endothelin-1 levels and change in markers implicated in vascular remodelling after 3 years. Serum endothelin-1 levels and markers of vascular remodelling such as carotid intima-media thickness, carotid cross-sectional wall area (CSWA) and arterial compliance were measured. Participants were divided into two groups according to an increase ( n =185) and a decrease ( n =152) in plasma endothelin-1 levels after 3 years. In partial regression analysis, the extent of endothelin-1 increase correlated positively with a change in pulse pressure and inversely with the change in arterial compliance in the group with increased endothelin-1 levels after 3 years. In the group with decreased endothelin-1 levels, the extent of decreased endothelin-1 correlated inversely with a change in CSWA. In multiple regression analysis, after splitting for race, the increase in endothelin-1 levels associated positively with the change in pulse pressure (Adj. R 2 =0.092; β =0.278; P =0.036) in the black participants only. In conclusion, with increased endothelin-1 levels after 3 years, the positive association between endothelin-1 and pulse pressure suggest subclinical haemodynamic changes with potential premature onset of cardiovascular disease in the black participants.