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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Assessing Endothelial Vasodilator Function with the Endo-PAT 2000
Published on: October 15, 2010
Circulating markers of endothelial function in cardiovascular disease
1Service de Médecine Interne et Médecine Vasculaire, Hôpital Saint-André, 1 rue Jean Burguet, 33075 Bordeaux And EA 3670, Université Victor Segalen-Bordeaux II, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33000 Bordeaux, France. joel.constans@chu-bordeaux.fr
Insights
Measuring endothelial dysfunction is crucial for cardiovascular disease prevention. Soluble thrombomodulin and von Willebrand factor show promise as reliable biomarkers for identifying at-risk individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Endothelial dysfunction is central to cardiovascular disease development.
- Accurate in vivo measurement is vital for primary prevention strategies.
- Existing biomarkers like sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sE-selectin have limitations in specificity and application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of various biological markers for assessing endothelial dysfunction.
- To identify reliable biomarkers for predicting cardiovascular disease risk and guiding therapeutic intervention.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of existing literature on endothelial dysfunction biomarkers.
- Comparison of specificity and predictive value of soluble adhesion molecules, soluble thrombomodulin, and von Willebrand factor.
Main Results:
- Soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1) lack specificity, being elevated in general inflammation.
- sE-selectin is endothelium-specific but linked to coronary artery disease and diabetes risk.
- Soluble thrombomodulin correlates with disease severity (coronary artery disease, stroke) and decreases with treatment.
- Von Willebrand factor emerges as a superior biomarker, predicting ischemic heart disease and stroke risk.
Conclusions:
- Von Willebrand factor is the most effective endothelial biomarker for predicting cardiovascular events.
- Soluble thrombomodulin shows potential for assessing disease severity and treatment response.
- Accurate endothelial dysfunction markers are essential for early intervention in cardiovascular disease prevention.
Abstract:
Endothelial dysfunction is a key event in cardiovascular disease. Measurement of endothelial dysfunction in vivo presents a major challenge, but has important implications since it may identify the clinical need for therapeutic intervention, specifically in primary prevention. Several biological markers have been used as indicators of endothelial dysfunction. The soluble adhesion molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 lack specificity and are increased in inflammatory processes. Both markers are increased in coronary artery disease. sICAM-1 level predicts the risk for cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus in healthy individuals. sE-selectin is specific for the endothelium and is increased in coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus. sE-selectin is also associated with diabetic risk. The endothelium-specific marker, soluble thrombomodulin, is associated with severity of coronary artery disease, stroke or peripheral occlusive arterial disease and is not increased in healthy or asymptomatic subjects. Interestingly, thrombomodulin decreases during treatment of hypercholesterolemia or hyperhomocysteinemia. In contrast, von Willebrand factor is the best endothelial biomarker and predicts risk for ischemic heart disease or stroke.
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