Current Vascular Pharmacology - Volume 9, Issue 2, 2011

A large number of clinical studies proved definitive effects of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) on the prevention of both atherosclerosis and cardiac events improving not only hypertension [1] but also metabolic disorders, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes [2, 3], and metabolic syndrome [4]. In addition, ARBs have been reported to have beneficial cardioprotective effects on improving cardiac hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction Read More

Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockers (ARBs), widely used in the treatment of hypertension, have cardiovascular, cerebral, and renal protective effects beyond blood pressure control. In addition to direct end-organ protection, some ARBs have been suggested to improve abnormalities of glucose and lipid metabolisms, resulting in an antiatherosclerotic effect in patients with hypertension. In several clinical Read More

Evidence accumulated to date indicates that inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) may prevent new-onset of diabetes. ARB is also used for the prevention of occurrence and progression of complications in diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. From the results of recent large-scale clinical studies, ARB is considered as a first choice drug in hypertensive patients with diabetes. In this re Read More

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an essential role in fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and the regulation of vascular tone; however, dysregulation and over-activation of the RAS lead to the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. The RAS is closely associated with NADPH oxidase, a major enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vasculature, and angiotensin II, the final effecter of the RAS, is a Read More

Angiotensin II regulates blood pressure and contributes to endothelial dysfunction and the progression of atherosclerosis. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in peripheral blood contribute to postnatal vessel repair and neovascularization. Impaired EPC function in patients with hypertension and diabetes inhibits the endogenous repair of vascular lesions and leads to the progression of atherosclerosi Read More

Metabolic syndrome comprises of a cluster of several risk factors including abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance. Many manifestations occur in sequence which is also referred to as the metabolic domino. Because the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) seems to be involved in this domino effect, RAS blockade by angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) offers a therapeutic tool for treating Read More

Obesity is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, which is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is now clear that gut hormones play a role in the regulation of body weight and represent therapeutic targets for the future treatment of obesity. Recent evidence demonstrated that dysregulation of adipocytokine functions seen in abdominal obesity may be involved in th Read More

Synthetic grafts, namely expanded polytetrafluoroethlene (ePTFE) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (Dacron), used for cardiovascular bypass surgery are thrombogenic. Lining the inner lumen (“seeding”) of synthetic grafts with endothelial cells (ECs) increases patency rates similar to those of autologous grafts (e.g. saphenous vein). The major drawback with seeding grafts is the retention of cells present on the graft af Read More

Inflammation plays a role at all stages of atherosclerosis. Neopterin, a pteridine mainly synthesized by activated macrophages, is a marker of inflammation, immune system activation and an active participant in cardiovascular disease. Measurement of neopterin levels may help follow the evolution of specific inflammatory conditions (e.g. viral infection, renal transplant rejection, systemic inflammatory diseases, nephritic sy Read More

Hypocholesterolemia is defined as total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels below the 5th percentile of the general population adjusted for age, gender and race. Hypocholesterolemia may be attributed to inherited disorders or several secondary causes. Inherited forms of hypocholesterolemia consist of a group of rare diseases. The best studied are familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL Read More

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a complex multisystem disease characterized by vascular involvement and generalized disturbance of the microcirculation. Pulmonary vascular disease leads to systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension (SScPAH). SScPAH is a devastating complication with a considerable impact on prognosis, being a common cause of disease-related death. The ability to detect this proces Read More

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a protective factor against cardiovascular disease. However, the beneficial therapeutic effects of raising HDL-C are proving difficult to confirm in humans. Macrophage-specific reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is thought to be one of the most important HDL-mediated cardioprotective mechanisms. A new approach wa Read More

Nephroangiosclerosis (NAS) is a major cause of progressive renal insufficiency. Hypertension is very important in the causation of NAS but other factors such as race, age, metabolic variables, and genetics play a pathogenic and prognostic role. A multifactorial treatment strategy, including antihypertensive, lipid-lowering and anti-platelet agents, could improve cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with vascular nephropathy.

Cardiovascular disease, in spite of the significant interventions that have been made for primary and secondary preventions, is still the main cause of death in men and women in the western world. The prevalence of myocardial infarction in women with normal level of estrogens is very rare and 3-5 times lower than in men. However, this favorable relationship disappears in older women. Thus, the results from several clinical Read More