Evidence for the release of bradykinin in carcinoid syndrome.

Abstract

In a previous report (2), it was shown that a kinin peptide was released into the hepatic venous blood of some patients with carcinoid syndrome during flushes induced by epinephrine. A kinin- forming enzyme (kallikrein) was found in several carcinoid tumors. The kinin obtained from the hepatic venous blood of these patients has been further examined in the present studies. The physicochemical characteristics, enzymatic inacti- vation, and pharmacologic properties of this sub- stance indicate that it is bradykinin. Studies on the formation of this kinin are also reported.