Endothelial function in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Part II: endothelial dysfunction in patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease

Abstract

At present it is thought that there may be the connection between subclinical inflammatory conditions and the incidence of hypertension. Up till now it has not been yet established clearly if the increased levels of inflammatory process markers result from primary inflammation promoting the development of atherosclerosis and hypertension or if this phenomenon is only secondary to the impairment of vascular wall in the course of hypertensive disease. It seems that endothelial dysfunction accompanying some inflammatory conditions may be an important clue in pathogeny of primary hypertension. Endothelial dysfunction takes an important part as well in the development as in the clinical evaluation of circulatory system diseases including hypertension and coronary heart disease and is related to increased risk of cardiac events. In some cases of genetically associated hypertension the endothelial dysfunction is primary to the development of hypertension which indicates that it may be the cause of hypertension. On the other hand hypertension itself regardless of its primary cause may impair the function of endothelium.