Objective:To investigate the levels of plasma endothelin and the expression of endothelin receptors gene in patients with congestive heart failure.Methods:The radio immunologic method was used to measure the plasma concentration of ET in 36 CHF pationts and 12 healthy (control). RT PCR was used to check the expression of CT recoptor gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cell. Results:Plasma endothelin of patients ( 4.90 ± 1.96 ) pmol/L was higher than that in healthy control ( 1.76 ± 0.82 ) pmol/L (P 0.01 ). There was no significant difference in the positive rate expression of endothelin receptor gene between patients and health control (P 0.05 ). There was no significant difference for ET receptor gene expression beween 2 groups ( 0.59 ± 0.17 ) (P 0.01 ).Conclusion:Plasma endothelin levels was elevated and endothelin A receptors were upregulated in patients with congestive heart failure. The ET system plays a key role in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure.