title: Endothelial function testing and cardiovascular disease: focus on peripheral arterial tonometry.
abstract: During recent decades, a number of methods have been developed to assess endothelial function, contributing to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Recently, the advent of noninvasive, reproducible techniques for assessment of endothelial function has opened novel possibilities of application in the clinical setting. Peripheral arterial tonometry is a relatively novel, user-friendly technique measuring finger pulse volume amplitude changes induced by reactive hyperemia following 5 minutes of ischemia in the upper limb. Current evidence indicates that this technique has the potential to significantly impact the field of cardiovascular research and prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, a number of methodological, pathophysiological, and clinical aspects still need to be clarified before widespread application of this promising technique. This review focuses on the current knowledge and future perspectives of peripheral arterial tonometry, in comparison with the most widely used noninvasive technique, i.e., flow-mediated dilation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology CNR, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghiadoni
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008365:Manometry; D008833:Microcirculation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014664:Vasodilation
keywords: endothelium; microcirculation; reactive hyperemia