Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, Naples, Italy.
Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2014 Jun;16(6):417. doi: 10.1007/s11883-014-0417-1.
Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a systemic disorder characterized by reduced production of nitric oxide. This pathologic condition, which impairs vascular homeostasis, leads to the loss of protective properties of endothelial cells and is related to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. ED may affect every vascular bed, accounting for several clinical implications, particularly when the coronary bed is affected. Although the reliability of ED as a cardiovascular disease surrogate is still debated, many methods for its assessment have been proposed. In this review, we underline the clinical value of ED in the cardiovascular field and summarize the principal methods currently available for its assessment.
内皮功能障碍（ED）是一种全身性疾病，其特征是一氧化氮的产生减少。这种病理状况会损害血管内稳态，导致内皮细胞保护特性丧失，与心血管疾病的发病机制有关。ED 可能影响所有血管床，产生多种临床意义，特别是当冠状动脉床受到影响时。尽管 ED 作为心血管疾病替代标志物的可靠性仍存在争议，但已经提出了许多评估其的方法。在这篇综述中，我们强调了 ED 在心血管领域的临床价值，并总结了目前评估 ED 的主要方法。
