title: Effects of Aspirin on Endothelial Function and Hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endothelial dysfunction is intimately related to the development of various cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, and is often used as a target for pharmacological treatment. The scope of this review is to assess effects of aspirin on endothelial function and their clinical implication in arterial hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emerging data indicate the role of platelets in the development of vascular inflammation due to the release of proinflammatory mediators, for example, triggered largely by thromboxane. Vascular inflammation further promotes oxidative stress, diminished synthesis of vasodilators, proaggregatory and procoagulant state. These changes translate into vasoconstriction, impaired circulation and thrombotic complications. Aspirin inhibits thromboxane synthesis, abolishes platelets activation and acetylates enzymes switching them to the synthesis of anti-inflammatory substances. Aspirin pleiotropic effects have not been fully elucidated yet. In secondary prevention studies, the decrease in cardiovascular events with aspirin outweighs bleeding risks, but this is not the case in primary prevention settings. Ongoing trials will provide more evidence on whether to expand the use of aspirin or stay within current recommendations.
authors: University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham, B18 7QH, UK.|Grodno State Medical University, Grodno, Belarus.
authors: Mikhail S
authors: MS
authors: Dzeshka
authors: University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham, B18 7QH, UK.
authors: Alena
authors: A
authors: Shantsila
authors: University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham, B18 7QH, UK. g.y.h.lip@bham.ac.uk.|Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark. g.y.h.lip@bham.ac.uk.
authors: Gregory Y H
authors: GY
authors: Lip
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D013927:Thrombosis; D014661:Vasoconstriction
chemical_list: D001241:Aspirin
keywords: Arterial hypertension; Aspirin; Cyclooxygenase; Endothelial function; Inflammation; Platelets