title: Circulatory syndrome: an evolution of the metabolic syndrome concept!
abstract: The metabolic syndrome has been a useful, though controversial construct in clinical practice as well as a valuable model in order to understand the interactions of diverse cardiovascular risk factors. However the increasing importance of the circulatory system in particular the endothelium, in both connecting and controlling organ function has underlined the limitations of the metabolic syndrome definition. The proposed "Circulatory Syndrome" is an attempt to refine the metabolic syndrome concept by the addition of recently documented markers of cardiovascular disease including renal impairment, microalbuminuria, arterial stiffness, ventricular dysfunction and anaemia to more classic factors including hypertension, dyslipidemia and abnormal glucose metabolism; all of which easily measured in clinical practice. These markers interact with each other as well as with other factors such as aging, obesity, physical inactivity, diet and smoking. The final common pathways of inflammation, oxidative stress and hypercoagulability thereby lead to endothelial damage and eventually cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, the Circulatory (MARC) Syndrome, like its predecessor the metabolic syndrome, is only a small step toward an understanding of these complex and as yet poorly understood markers of disease.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. alikhoshdel@yahoo.com
authors: Ali Reza
authors: AR
authors: Khoshdel
authors: Shane L
authors: SL
authors: Carney
authors: Alastair
authors: A
authors: Gillies
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers