How to assess endothelial function in human blood vessels

This brief review discusses the ways, if and when available, to examine end othelium-dependent changes in diameter in human blood vessels. It stresses the problems in ensuring proper matching between arteries (and veins) from different human sources. It briefly considers the evidence in vitro support ing the role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, hyperpolarizing factor(s) and contracting factors (including metabolites of arachidonic acid and end othelin), It emphasizes the difficulty in extrapolating observations obtain ed in isolated arteries (and veins) to the intact human circulation. The ov erall conclusion is that the interpretations derived from animal work apply to the human vasculature. J Hypertens 1999, 17:1047-1058 (C) Lippincott Wi lliams & Wilkins.