Abstract: Objective To explore the changes of plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitrousoxide (NO), blood gas analysis, and blood rheology in patients with chronic bronchitis (CB), pulmonary emphysema (PE) and pulmonary heart disease (PHD) at different periods.Methods The plasma ET-1, NO, blood viscosity, hematocrit (Hct) and aggregation index (AI) of patients in groups of CB, PE and PHD, and the subjects of the control group were tested and compared. Blood gas analysis of subjects in four groups also performed and compared. Each group had 40 cases.Results In PE and PHD patients, the ET-1 level was higher, the indexes of blood gas analysis and blood rheology were abnormal. When PE developed into PHD, the ET-1 and PaCO₂ tended to increase, PaO₂ tended to decrease. When CB developed into PE and PHD, the blood viscosity, pressure volume and AI tended to increase, but NO tended to decrease.Conclusion When CB developed into PE or PHD, ET-1, PaCO₂ tend to increase and NO, pH, PaO₂ tend to decrease; increased red blood cells, blood viscosity and AI become severe.

Key words: chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, pulmonary heart disease, endothelin-1, nitrousoxide, blood gas analysis, blood viscosity