title: Endothelial dysfunction and its role in diabetic vascular disease.
abstract: When normal endothelial function is shifted to a pathological degree, the foundation is laid for possibly following diseases. This endothelial dysfunction is characterized by a proinflammatory state, reduced vasodilation, and a prothrombotic state. In the continuation this dysfunction is strongly associated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Endothelial dysfunction is markedly enhanced in type 2 diabetes providing a major pathophysiological cause for the massively increased cardiovascular risk of diabetic patients. Subsequently future therapeutic approaches for the treatment of diabetic cardiovascular disease should target the dysfunctional endothelium first.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiovascular Research, Institute for Pharmacology, Charité Berlin, Hessische Strasse 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hartge
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kintscher
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Unger
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C089946:2,4-thiazolidinedione