title: Vasoprotection and antihypertensive therapy.
abstract: Vasoprotective drugs decrease the vulnerability of blood vessels to cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Mechanistic treatment end-points of hypertension (normalization of endovascular pressure) may not correct nonhypertensive components of the pathobiology of hypertension. Estrogen replacement therapy, antihypertensive treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and manipulations of nitric oxide metabolism may have beneficial effects on vessels in the absence of blood pressure normalization. Estrogens and L-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide, can partly correct impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation, a pathophysiologic hallmark of hypertensive states. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors preserve endothelium-dependent vasodilation and protect arteries against the atherogenic effects of hypercholesterolemia by a non-hypolipidemic, non-hypotensive mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Cabello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents