Díez Javier
Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Centre for Applied Medical Research and University Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona , Spain.
Adv Cardiol. 2007;44:76-95. doi: 10.1159/000096722.
The growing prevalence and associated risk of arterial stiffness provide a major challenge to better understand the underlying causes and the resultant physiological impact of this condition. Structural components within the arterial wall, mainly collagen and elastin, are considered to be major determinants of arterial stiffness. Thus, quantitative and qualitative alterations of collagen and elastin fibers are involved in arterial stiffening that is associated with the aging process and disease states such as hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and chronic renal failure. Elucidation of mechanisms leading to the above alterations will aid in more specifically targeted therapeutic interventions because currently available cardiovascular medications fall short at reducing the stiffness of the large arteries. Reduction of arterial stiffness will likely have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality of older adults, as well as subjects suffering from cardiovascular and renal diseases.
动脉僵硬度的日益普遍及其相关风险对更好地理解这种状况的潜在原因和由此产生的生理影响构成了重大挑战。动脉壁内的结构成分，主要是胶原蛋白和弹性蛋白，被认为是动脉僵硬度的主要决定因素。因此，胶原蛋白和弹性纤维的定量和定性改变参与了与衰老过程以及诸如高血压、糖尿病、动脉粥样硬化和慢性肾衰竭等疾病状态相关的动脉硬化。阐明导致上述改变的机制将有助于进行更具针对性的治疗干预，因为目前可用的心血管药物在降低大动脉僵硬度方面效果不佳。降低动脉僵硬度可能会对老年人以及患有心血管和肾脏疾病的患者的发病率和死亡率产生重大影响。
