The vascular endothelium in chronic renal failure

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.