Endothelial dysfunction in hypertension.

Endothelium can deeply influence vascular tone and structure. The main endothelium derived factor is nitric oxide, which is not only a potent vasodilator but also inhibits platelet aggregation, smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation, monocyte adhesion and adhesion molecule expression, thus protecting the vessel wall against the development of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. In human hypertension, endothelial dysfunction has been documented in peripheral and coronary macro and microcirculation and in renal circulation. Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation associated with essential hypertension seems to be a primary phenomenon, since it can be detected in the offspring of essential hypertensive patients, shows no clear correlation with blood pressure value, and is not normalized by the mere reduction of blood pressure. The phenomenon responsible for endothelial alteration in essential hypertensive patients seems to be the activation of an alternative pathway involving cyclooxygenase which reduces NO availability through production of oxidative stress. This alteration in the NO pathway could be the main mechanism through which a dysfunctional endothelium could be a promoter of atherosclerosis and thrombosis in essential hypertension.