title: Effect of interaction between left ventricular dysfunction and endothelial function in hypertension.
abstract: Hypertension, one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, is associated with both left ventricular hypertrophy and endothelial dysfunction. Both have been recently recognized as independent predictors of clinical events in different groups of patients. In fact, a dysfunctioning endothelium loses its antiatherosclerotic and antithrombotic action, and, therefore, promotes the atherosclerotic process. Similarly, cardiac hypertrophy is recognized as a powerful and independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality because it predisposes to arrhythmias and maximizes the consequences of acute myocardial ischemia. Recently, an evident interaction has been demonstrated between endothelial dysfunction and left ventricular mass. In particular, the coexistence of both left ventricular hypertrophy and endothelial dysfunction almost doubles the risk for future vascular events in hypertensives. Thus, in hypertensive patients, it is clinically useful to choose an aggressive therapeutic strategy--to reduce left ventricular mass and to improve endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Policlinico Mater Domini, Via Tommaso Campanella, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciacqua
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrello
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vatrano
authors.forename: Rosa Daniela
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Grembiale
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perticone
mesh_terms: D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*