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Pathophysiology of Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

  • Section 1: A Global Approach to Vascular Disease
  • Published:
Disease Management & Health Outcomes

Summary

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor is a potent endogenous vasodilator. This substance is now known to be nitric oxide, which is derived from the metabolism of L-arginine. This potent vasodilator also inhibits interactions of circulating blood elements with the vessel wall. Platelet adherence and aggregation, as well as monocyte adherence and infiltration, are regulated by this paracrine factor. By virtue of these characteristics, nitric oxide inhibits atherogenesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California, 94305-5246, USA

    John P. Cooke & Ritu Bhatnagar

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  1. John P. Cooke
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  2. Ritu Bhatnagar
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Cooke, J.P., Bhatnagar, R. Pathophysiology of Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease. Dis-Manage-Health-Outcomes 2 (Suppl 1), 1–8 (1997). https://doi.org/10.2165/00115677-199700021-00003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00115677-199700021-00003

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