Practicality and importance of selected endothelial dysfunction measurement techniques: review

ABSTRACT

The measurement of endothelial dysfunction (ED) has importance in that it indicates the presence of coronary artery disease (Kuvin et al. in J Am Coll Cardiol 38(7)1843–1849, 2001) in addition to acting as a predictor of future adverse events (Halcox et al. in Circulation 106653–658, 2002). Various tools, methods, and metrics exist that can provide an indicator of endothelial dysfunction. Given the signifi cance of ED, it is of utmost importance to fi nd a measurement technique that is reliable, while defi ning a metric providing a framework for an overall system that is practical, accurate, and repeatable. Success would provide a tool for the early detection of cardiovascular disease not only moving patients that are currently classifi ed as asymptomatic to symptomatic, but also providing a method to monitor the effi cacy of treatments.