title: Insulin resistance and the endothelium.
abstract: There is increasing evidence of a parallel progression between insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction, suggesting a close association between insulin action and the endothelium. Numerous studies have demonstrated that endothelial dysfunction occurs early in the insulin-resistant state and is predictive of future cardiovascular events. Similarly, insulin resistance has been associated with the metabolic syndrome, which also increases the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Approaches that improve endothelial dysfunction, such as treatment with statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ligands, have been shown to prevent both diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This article reviews the relation between endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, assesses the endothelium in the spectrum of insulin resistance, and examines the effect of the thiazolidinediones on endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. whsueh@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Willa A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Quiñones
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D045162:Thiazolidinediones