Relationship between endothelin-1(ET-1) and extracellular matrix(ECM)of lung lavage fluid in preterm infants with chronic lung disease

Objective To investigate the relationship between ET-1 and ECM in lung lavage fluid in preterm infants with chronic lung disease (CLD). Methods Lung lavage was carried out every day in 62 ventilated infants hospitalized in NICU from December 1999 to November 2004. Total cell counts, neutrophilic granulocyte counts, ET-1 and PC-Ⅲ,HA,Hyp in lung lavage fluid were examined. Among the 62 infants, 20 developed pneumonia, 13 developed hyaline membrane disease(HMD), 15 developed CLD and 14 without lung disease served as control group. Results Total cell counts, neutrophilic granulocyte counts, ET-1 and PC-Ⅲ,HA,Hyp in lung lavage fluid in infants who developed CLD were higher than the others at 5 days after birth(P0.01). ET-1 and PC-Ⅲ,HA,Hyp in lung lavage fluid reached peak at 2 to 4 days after birth in pneumonia and HMD groups and dropped at 5 days. All indicators in the control group remained at a low level at 5 days after birth.Conclusion Increased ET-1 and PC-Ⅲ,HA,Hyp in lung lavage fluid at 5 days after birth could serve as an important index in CLD diagnosis.