Endothelial function, arterial stiffness and lipid lowering drugs

Abstract

The endothelium is a dynamic organ that plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular homeostasis. Alteration in endothelial function precedes the development of atherosclerosis and contributes to its initiation, perpetuation and clinical manifestations. It has been suggested that the assessment of endothelial function could represent a barometer of vascular health that could be used to gauge cardiovascular risk. This review summarises the various methods used to assess endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and their potential prognostic implications. In addition, the techniques used to evaluate arterial stiffness are discussed. The latter is to some extent controlled by the endothelium and has been the subject of considerable research in recent years. This paper also discusses the effects of lipid lowering treatment on both endothelial function and arterial stiffness.

Keywords::

• arterial stiffness
• cardiovascular disease
• cholesterol
• endothelial function
• lipid lowering drugs
• statins

Acknowledgements

Konstantinos Tziomalos is supported by a grant from the Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society.