title: Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction as therapeutic targets in patients with heart failure.
abstract: Evidence suggests that vascular endothelium plays key role in the regulation of vascular tone, in the process of inflammation and in the thrombotic mechanisms. Recent studies indicate that it is an important component of the pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure. Heart failure may induce endothelial dysfunction by different mechanisms, such as reduced synthesis and release of nitric oxide (NO), increased degradation of NO or by increased production of endothelin-1. In addition, endothelial dysfunction has been associated with the progression of heart failure. Alterations in neurotransmitters, hormones and also in physiological stimuli are present in heart failure and affect the vascular endothelium. Treatments with beneficial effects on endothelial dysfunction may also improve prognosis in patients with heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Hippokration Hospital, Athens University Medical School, S. Karagiorga Street 69, 166 75 Glifada Athens, Greece. drtousoulis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tousoulis
authors.forename: Marietta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charakida
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019332:Endothelin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002331:Carnitine