Endothelial dysfunction: its role in hypertensive coronary disease.
OBJECTIVE
Coronary artery disease is the major cause of death worldwide. Hypertension is a major risk factor for developing coronary disease. It is now recognized that endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of coronary artery disease before structural changes to the vessel wall are apparent on angiography or intravascular ultrasound and that it has a prognostic value in predicting cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. This review addresses recent developments in hypertension-induced endothelial dysfunction.


RESULTS
Hyperaldosteronism causes endothelial dysfunction independent of high blood pressure. Exaggerated exercise blood pressure response has been related to endothelial dysfunction. Cyclosporin-A-induced endothelial dysfunction is related to reduced cholesterol content in caveolae. Chronic kidney disease induces changes in caveoli-1 and thus contributes to the reduced nitric oxide bioavailability, and causes oxidative stress independent of the high blood pressure. Asymmetric dimethylarginine plays a role in endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive patients independent of insulin resistance. 20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid is an independent predictor of hypertension in postmenopausal women. Endothelial dysfunction precedes and predicts the development of hypertension in postmenopausal women. Oral treatment with L-arginine improves endothelial dysfunction in hypertensives and lowers the blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction in hypertension is multifactorial. Recent findings have contributed to our understanding of mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and support a role for early intervention to prevent irreversible vascular and organ damage.
Bolad
Islam
I
Section of Cardiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Delafontaine
Patrice
P
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / Q000652:urine; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; D016877:Oxidants; C487735:dimethylarginine; D000804:Angiotensin II; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C055987:20-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid; D001120:Arginine