Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.

There is increasing evidence that the vascular endothelium is an important functional component of the blood vessel wall, actively participating in normal vascular physiology as well as the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. The localized modulation of vascular endothelium to a nonadaptive functional state can be termed endothelial dysfunction. This article provides a brief overview of the multiple vital functions of endothelium, and a working concept of endothelial dysfunction especially as it relates to atherosclerosis and its thrombotic complications.