Abstract
1. Endothelial dysfunction, due to reductions in nitric oxide (NO) action, is an early feature of macrovascular disease. 2. Non‐invasive measurement of endothelial function may be assessed by postischaemic dilatation of forearm vessels, using plethysmography, or flow‐mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, using ultrasound. 3. Brachial flow‐mediated dilatation reflects NO release and/or action more than forearm hyperaemia. 4. These techniques have been used as surrogate measures of coronary endothelial function. 5. Methodological, physiological and clinical aspects of the techniques are discussed.

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