Nitric oxide donors in the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.
NO has been shown to be a biologic substance important to normal physiologic functioning. It appears to be an endogenous vasodilator and is involved in hemostasis and inflammation. Endothelial cell dysfunction often leads to diminished NO production; this reduction in NO concentrations may be an etiologic factor in systemic hypertension, myocardial and splanchnic ischemia, atherosclerosis, CHF, and pulmonary vascular disease. A new class of drugs, NO donors, have potential utility in the treatment of coronary and pulmonary arterial diseases. Their major advantage over nitrates and nitroprusside is a lack of pharmacologic tolerance. Clinical trials with drugs of this class are now in progress.
Loskove
J A
JA
Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY.
Frishman
W H
WH
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D009569:Nitric Oxide