Endothelial function and dysfunction. Part II: Association with cardiovascular risk factors and diseases. A statement by the Working Group on Endothelins and Endothelial Factors of the European Society of Hypertension.
Dysfunction of the vascular endothelium is a hallmark of most conditions that are associated with atherosclerosis and is therefore held to be an early feature in atherogenesis. However, the mechanisms by which endothelial dysfunction occurs in smoking, dyslipidaemia, hyperhomocysteinaemia, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, coronary artery disease and heart failure are complex and heterogeneous. Recent data indicate that endothelial dysfunction is often associated with erectile dysfunction, which can precede and predict cardiovascular disease in men. This paper will provide a concise overview of the mechanisms causing endothelial dysfunction in the different cardiovascular risk factors and disease conditions, and of the impact of the intervention measures and treatments.
Brunner
Hanspeter
H
Division of Cardiology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
Cockcroft
John R
JR
Deanfield
John
J
Donald
Ann
A
Ferrannini
Ele
E
Halcox
Julian
J
Kiowski
Wolfgang
W
Lüscher
Thomas F
TF
Mancia
Giuseppe
G
Natali
Andrea
A
Oliver
James J
JJ
Pessina
Achille C
AC
Rizzoni
Damiano
D
Rossi
Gian Paolo
GP
Salvetti
Antonio
A
Spieker
Lukas E
LE
Taddei
Stefano
S
Webb
David J
DJ
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012307:Risk Factors
D009569:Nitric Oxide