title: Endothelial dysfunction over the course of coronary artery disease.
abstract: The vascular endothelium regulates blood flow in response to physiological needs. Endothelial dysfunction is closely related to atherosclerosis and its risk factors, and it constitutes an intermediate step on the progression to adverse events throughout the natural history of coronary artery disease (CAD), often affecting clinical outcomes. Understanding the relation of endothelial function with CAD provides an important pathophysiological insight, which can be useful both in clinical and research management. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on endothelial dysfunction and its prognostic influence throughout the natural history of CAD, from early atherosclerosis to post-transplant management.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Andreas J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Flammer
authors.forename: Lilach O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Lerman
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elízaga
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerman
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández-Avilés
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D055806:Microvessels / Q000502:physiology; D015607:Stents; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Acetylcholine; Coronary heart disease; Endothelial dysfunction; Heart failure; Heart transplant