The assessment of endothelial function in the cardiac catheterization laboratory in patients with risk factors for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

In the last 2 decades the endothelium has emerged as an active modulator of many local and systemic functions. The intact endothelium synthesizes and releases a variety of autocrine and paracrine substances that affect cell growth and proliferation, platelet aggregation and adhesion, inflammatory processes, and vascular tone. The aims of the present review are to present the current technique for the assessment of coronary artery endothelial function in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and to describe the current knowledge regarding risk factor modification on endothelial dysfunction.