ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES: RISK FACTORS, METHODS OF DIAGNOSTIC, AND CORRECTION
The endothelium plays a crucial role in regulating vascular tone, proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells, and it maintains a balance of profibrinolytic and prothrombotic activity. These effects are mediated by the releasing of vasoactive substances. The main endothelium-derived vasodilators include nitric oxide, prostacyclin and bradykinin. These substances also regulates the local processes of a hemostasis and suppresses the smooth muscle cell growth. The vasoconstrictors, such as endothelin, thromboxane A<sub>2 </sub>and angiotensin II contribute to the atherogenesis. The imbalance of endothelium-derived relaxing and contracting factors is defined as endothelium dysfunction. A number of conditions recognized as risk factors of atherosclerosis result to endothelial dysfunction by that or otherwise. So is actual to asses the indexes of endothelial function in men with risk factors of atherosclerosis before appearance of clinical signs of disease and assigning of pathogenetic therapy at this stage that will allow to improve the prognosis of patients.