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Endothelial Dysfunction, Nitric Oxide Bioavailability, and Asymmetric Dimethyl Arginine

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Cardiorenal Syndrome

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction is common to various pathophysiological conditions and disease states. This dysfunction encompasses alterations in various processes that are modulated by the endothelium, including thrombosis, inflammation, control of vascular tone, and vessel growth and remodelling. Although this term has been used commonly to refer to an impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation secondary to reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity, the clinical and scientific relevance of endothelial dysfunction rests on its global impact on the integrity of the arterial system and on its fundamental role in cardiovascular and renal diseases. Low NO availability is indeed a critical factor in hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, aging, diabetes, and heart failure and represents the basic mechanism whereby some environmental factors, such as smoking and small particulate matter, cause cardiovascular disease. A decline in NO bioavailability may be caused by decreased expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), reduced substrate or cofactors for this enzyme, alterations of cellular signalling, eNOS inhibition by asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), and accelerated NO degradation by reactive oxygen species.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nephrology, Hypertension and Renal Transplantation Unit and CNR-IBIM, Ospedali Riuniti, Reggio Calabria, Italy

    Carmine Zoccali

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  1. Carmine Zoccali
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

    Adel E. Berbari

  2. Clinica Medica Department of Clinical Medicine and Prevention, University of Milano-Bicocca San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Milan, Italy

    Giuseppe Mancia

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Zoccali, C. (2010). Endothelial Dysfunction, Nitric Oxide Bioavailability, and Asymmetric Dimethyl Arginine. In: Berbari, A.E., Mancia, G. (eds) Cardiorenal Syndrome. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1463-3_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1463-3_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-1462-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-1463-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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