Endothelial dysfunction, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium antagonists.

The endothelium plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Endothelial function is attenuated by the presence of different well known cardiovascular risk factors. Evaluation of endothelial vasodilator function serve as an index integrating the overall stress imposed by cardiovascular risk factors and reinforce the suggestion that endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of cardiovascular disease that precedes clinical manifestations. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have been shown to reduce the cardiovascular mortality, an effect that could be the consequence of an improvement in the endothelial function. Recent studies have shown that a calcium antagonist might improve the endothelial function, however, there is controversy about this action and also about the potential mechanisms for the effect of a calcium antagonist in the regulation of endothelial function.