Heart 2006;92:1537-1538
EDITORIAL
Heart failure: statins for all?
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Correspondence to:
Professor Adelino Leite-Moreira
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; amoreira@med.up.pt
Although there is increasing evidence of benefit in using statins to treat patients with non-ischaemic heart failure, it is not yet possible to recommend the routine use of these drugs in all heart failure patients, irrespective of the aetiology
Abbreviations: FMD, flow-mediated vasodilation; LDL, low density lipoprotein; HMG-CoA, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA; TNF-
, tumour necrosis factor-
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
The endothelium is an essential structural and functional element of the cardiovascular system and constitutes the largest endocrine system in the organism. It contributes to cardiovascular homeostasis not only by regulating vascular permeability but also by adjusting the calibre of blood vessels to haemodynamic and hormonal demands and by maintaining blood fluidity. Endothelial cells perform these functions by the expression, activation, and release of powerful vasoactive substances as well as of numerous other bioactive molecules. Almost all conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis are associated with endothelial dysfunction. Cardiovascular risk factors activate a number of pro-oxidative genes in the vascular wall resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species that ultimately promote endothelial release of transcriptional and growth factors, proinflammatory cytokines, chemoattractant substances and adhesion molecules.1 This complex cascade of events underlies the transition from normal endothelial function to endothelial dysfunction that manifests itself by abnormal vasomotor activity, development of a
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