title: Endothelial function, mechanical stress and atherosclerosis.
abstract: Atherosclerosis and its complications represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized as well as in the developing countries. Classical cardiovascular risk factors have been identified over the past decades leading to recommendations for life style modifications and to the development of efficient and well-tolerated drug regimens aimed at reducing the occurrence of cardiovascular complications. The endothelium due to its position in the circulation is the first organ being exposed to circulating noxious elements and solutes as well as to the mechanical aggressions generated by heartbeats and pulsating blood flow. This review addresses the relevance of the combined effects of the mechanical stress and cardiovascular risk factors on the early phases of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Vascular Medicine, CHUV, Lausanne , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hayoz
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzolai
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012307:Risk Factors; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014655:Vascular Resistance
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide