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Endothelial Function and Insights for Prevention

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Book cover Preventive Cardiology

Part of the book series: Contemporary Cardiology ((CONCARD))

Abstract

When William Harvey described the circulatory system in 1628, it was believed that the endothelium was an inert organ whose mere function was to line the arteries. Extensive research, however, has demonstrated that the endothelium is one of the most sophisticated organs in the system, playing a substantial role in the homeostasis of the circulatory system (1). The endothelium serves as one of the largest paracrine organs in the body by playing a pivotal role in the regulation of such important tasks as vascular growth, vascular tone, and hemostasis. Additionally, the endothelium maintains the balance between opposing states: vasodilation vs vasoconstriction, growth promotion vs inhibition, antithrombosis vs fibrinolysis, antioxidation vs oxidation, and anti-inflammation vs proinflammation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. South Florida Heart Institute, Delray Beach, FL

    Eric H. Lieberman MD (Director of Research Department)

  2. Department of Rheumatology, University of Miami, Miami, FL

    Margarita R. Garces MD

  3. Department of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

    Francisco Lopez-Jimenez MD, MSc

Authors
  1. Eric H. Lieberman MD
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  2. Margarita R. Garces MD
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  3. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez MD, MSc
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

    Joanne Micale Foody MD

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Lieberman, E.H., Garces, M.R., Lopez-Jimenez, F. (2006). Endothelial Function and Insights for Prevention. In: Foody, J.M. (eds) Preventive Cardiology. Contemporary Cardiology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-096-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-096-6_2

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-521-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-096-6

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