Assessment of endothelial function. History, methodological aspects, and clinical perspectives.
In 1986, endothelial function was measured for the first time in patients with atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Since then, several methods for assessment of endothelial function, such as endothelium-dependent vasodilation induced by intra-arterial infusion of vasoactive agents using coronary angiography, Doppler flow guide wire, mercury-filled Silastic strain-gauge plethysmography, flow-mediated vasodilation, reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry, and vascular response using an oscillometric method have been performed in humans. This review focuses on the assessment of endothelial function, including measurement history, methodological issues, and clinical perspectives.
Department of Cardiovascular Regeneration and Medicine, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University; Division of Regeneration and Medicine, Medical Center for Translational and Clinical Research, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
Yukihito
Y
Higashi
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry; D010991:Plethysmography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology