[Anti-hypertensive drugs associated with the improvement of endothelial function]

Vascular endothelium is not merely a barrier between circulating blood and tissue, but also regulates vascular tone through the secretion of numerous vasoactive substances in response to hemodynamic changes. Thus endothelial injuries by hypertension and atherogenic risk factors play important pathogenic roles in the vascular disease state, and the protection of endothelial function leads to amelioration of progressive vascular disease. In this review, we describe the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction in vascular disease, and therapeutic significance of vaso-protective agents, especially in the cotex of endothelial protection.