[The endothelium in the metabolic syndrome]

The endothelium is responsible for the maintenance of vascular homeostasis. In physiological conditions it acts keeping vascular tonus, laminar blood flow, plasmatic membrane fluidity, the balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis and the inhibition of cellular proliferation, migration and the inflammatory response. Endothelial dysfunction is defined as an alteration of vascular relaxation induced by reduction of endothelium-derived relaxing factors (ERRFs), mainly nitric oxide. These abnormal vasomotor responses occur in the presence of various risk factors for atherosclerosis. The metabolic syndrome is considered a state of chronic inflammation accompanied of endothelial dysfunction causing an increased incidence of ischemic cardiovascular events and high mortality. This revision will encompass the physiological process of vascular function regulation, methods for in vivo assessment of endothelial dysfunction and therapies capable to improve vascular function and consequently minimize the cardiovascular risk due to metabolic syndrome.