Biomaterial Database

The vascular endothelium in chronic renal failure. 2000

S T Morris, and A G Jardine

Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. scott@glasgow79.freeserve.co.uk

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with a 20-fold increased risk of cardiovascular death, two principal mechanisms being: sudden, arrhythmic death associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, and ischaemic heart disease, associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. In recent years, the vascular endothelium has been recognised as a large and complex endocrine organ, with many important physiological functions including the control of vascular tone. Endothelial dysfunction, commonly characterised by reduced production of the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO), is thought to be a key initial event in the development of atherosclerosis and is present in patients with hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. While these cardiovascular risk factors are also prevalent in CRF, other factors more specific to uraemia such as accumulation of homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine (endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase) may impair endothelial function. Modulation of endothelial function in CRF may offer a novel strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006949	Hyperlipidemias	Conditions with excess LIPIDS in the blood.	Hyperlipemia,Hyperlipidemia,Lipemia,Lipidemia,Hyperlipemias,Lipemias,Lipidemias
D006973	Hypertension	Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more.	Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D007676	Kidney Failure, Chronic	The end-stage of CHRONIC RENAL INSUFFICIENCY. It is characterized by the severe irreversible kidney damage (as measured by the level of PROTEINURIA) and the reduction in GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE to less than 15 ml per min (Kidney Foundation: Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative, 2002). These patients generally require HEMODIALYSIS or KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION.	ESRD,End-Stage Renal Disease,Renal Disease, End-Stage,Renal Failure, Chronic,Renal Failure, End-Stage,Chronic Kidney Failure,End-Stage Kidney Disease,Chronic Renal Failure,Disease, End-Stage Kidney,Disease, End-Stage Renal,End Stage Kidney Disease,End Stage Renal Disease,End-Stage Renal Failure,Kidney Disease, End-Stage,Renal Disease, End Stage,Renal Failure, End Stage
D009131	Muscle, Smooth, Vascular	The nonstriated involuntary muscle tissue of blood vessels.	Vascular Smooth Muscle,Muscle, Vascular Smooth,Muscles, Vascular Smooth,Smooth Muscle, Vascular,Smooth Muscles, Vascular,Vascular Smooth Muscles
D002199	Capillary Permeability	The property of blood capillary ENDOTHELIUM that allows for the selective exchange of substances between the blood and surrounding tissues and through membranous barriers such as the BLOOD-AIR BARRIER; BLOOD-AQUEOUS BARRIER; BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER; BLOOD-NERVE BARRIER; BLOOD-RETINAL BARRIER; and BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER. Small lipid-soluble molecules such as carbon dioxide and oxygen move freely by diffusion. Water and water-soluble molecules cannot pass through the endothelial walls and are dependent on microscopic pores. These pores show narrow areas (TIGHT JUNCTIONS) which may limit large molecule movement.	Microvascular Permeability,Permeability, Capillary,Permeability, Microvascular,Vascular Permeability,Capillary Permeabilities,Microvascular Permeabilities,Permeabilities, Capillary,Permeabilities, Microvascular,Permeabilities, Vascular,Permeability, Vascular,Vascular Permeabilities
D002455	Cell Division	The fission of a CELL. It includes CYTOKINESIS, when the CYTOPLASM of a cell is divided, and CELL NUCLEUS DIVISION.	M Phase,Cell Division Phase,Cell Divisions,Division Phase, Cell,Division, Cell,Divisions, Cell,M Phases,Phase, Cell Division,Phase, M,Phases, M
D003920	Diabetes Mellitus	A heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by HYPERGLYCEMIA and GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE.
D004730	Endothelium, Vascular	Single pavement layer of cells which line the luminal surface of the entire vascular system and regulate the transport of macromolecules and blood components.	Capillary Endothelium,Vascular Endothelium,Capillary Endotheliums,Endothelium, Capillary,Endotheliums, Capillary,Endotheliums, Vascular,Vascular Endotheliums
D006706	Homeostasis	The processes whereby the internal environment of an organism tends to remain balanced and stable.	Autoregulation
D006710	Homocysteine	A thiol-containing amino acid formed by a demethylation of METHIONINE.	2-amino-4-mercaptobutyric acid,Homocysteine, L-Isomer,2 amino 4 mercaptobutyric acid,Homocysteine, L Isomer,L-Isomer Homocysteine