Avtor/Urednik		Šabovič, Mišo; Salobir, Barbara
Naslov		The role of pulmonary endothelial dysfunction in pericapilary pulmonary hypertension
Tip		članek
Vir		Central European vascular journal
Vol. in št.		Letnik 2
Leto izdaje		2003
Obseg		str. 56-9
Jezik		eng
Abstrakt		The endothelium cells modulate vascular tone in the pulmonary vasculature by the release of vasoactive substances. Endothelium releases both constricting (endothelium-derived constricting factors:EDCF) and relaxing (endothelium-derived relaxing factors: EDRF) factors: endothelin-1, nitric oxide, prostacyclin, thromboxane and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor. The function of endothelial cells may be disturbed by several known and by several as yet unknown factors, leading to a pathological disbalance between EDCF and EDRF termed „pulmonary endothelial dysfunction". Endothelial dysfunction contributes to the increased pulmonary vascular tone, promotes vascular remodelling through induction of smooth vascular muscle cell proliferation and generates increased thrombogenicity of the endothelium facilitating intravascular thrombosis. Growing evidence suggests that endothelial cell dysfunction, as well as alteration of vascular smooth cells, is involved in the pathogenesis of primary and secondary pulmonary precapillary hypertension. Recently, several therapeutic strategies (endothelin receptor inhibitors, prostacyclin analogues, sildenafil) focusing on endothelial dysfunction have given promising results in the treatment of patients with pulmonary hypertension. It seems likely that improvement of pulmonary endothelial dysfunction in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension may result in the alleviation of symptoms and prolongation of life.
Deskriptorji		HYPERTENSION, PULMONARY ENDOTHELIUM, VASCULAR ENDOTHELIN-1 NITRIC OXIDE ENDOTHELIN-2 ENDOTHELIN-3 EPOPROSTENOL THROMBOXANE A2