Endothelial Function

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Abstract
Common conditions predisposing to atherosclerosis, such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking, are associated with endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial function has largely been assessed as endothelium-dependent vasomotion, at least in part based on the assumption that impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation also reflects the alteration of other important functions of the endothelium. An important rationale for this approach has been the observation that endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO), a major mediator of endothelium-dependent vasodilation, has important anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties, ie, inhibiting leukocyte adhesion, limiting platelet adhesion and aggregation, and the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a prothrombotic protein. Accumulating data suggest that the degree of impairment of endothelium-dependent vasomotion has profound and independent prognostic implications. A common mechanism underlying endothelial dysfunction relates...