Purpose. To study the effect of endothelin-1 gene polymorphism(Lys198?sn) on airway remodeling and vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with COPD.

Materials and methods: The study included 123 patients diagnosed with COPD, who were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of defects in the endothelin-1 gene: group 1 (n=52) with a heterozygous or mutational genotype and group 2 (n= 71) with a normal homozygous genotype. The levels of von Willebrand factor(VWF) as a marker of endothelial dysfunction were determined by ELISA, and spirometry with bronchodilator reversibility test (BRT) was also performed.

Results. In the 1st group of patients, the average level of the VWF was 112.4±6.1%, in the 2nd group it was 79.4±4.1%. An increase in the VWF was found in 75% of patients in the 1st group, while in the 2nd group it was 59.2%. The results of the spirometry showed that in the 1st group, the variability of FEV1 after the BRT averaged 5.2±1.4%, while in the 2nd group it was 9.4±1.1%, which may indicate a greater resistance of the airways and be a sign of remodeling and more persistent obstruction.

  Conclusions: The predominance of an increase in VWF in the group of patients with a defect in the endothelin-1 gene (p<0.01) and a higher proportion of patients with elevated levels of VWF indicates an increase in endothelial dysfunction in the presence of this polymorphism, while a decrease in FEV1 variability with the use of BRT may indicate a parallel effect of a defect in the gene on the deposition of collagen in the respiratory epithelium of the bronchi and the development of a more persistent obstruction.