title: Endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: The endothelium plays an integral role in the regulation of vascular tone, platelet activity, leukocyte adhesion, and thrombosis and is intimately involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction has been observed in patients with established coronary artery disease or coronary risk factors, both in the coronary and peripheral vasculature. Therapeutic interventions with lipid-lowering drugs, ACE inhibitors, physical activity, and antioxidant agents have been shown to improve endothelial function in coronary and peripheral vessels. This systemic manifestation and improvement of endothelial function suggests that a common mechanism may contribute to endothelial dysfunction in the coronary and peripheral circulation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Internist, Cardiologists, Family physicians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  After completion of this article, the reader should be able to define the participation of cardiovascular risk factors in the various complications associated with endothelial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Western Medical National Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. fgroverp@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grover-Páez
authors.forename: Ana Bertha
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Zavalza-Gómez
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide