VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS DURING HYPOXIA

Atherosclerosis and thrombosis are basic processes responsible for the occlusion of vessels. Consequently, deteriorating events related to h ypoxia are implementing, leading to an increased progressive necrosis which can be acute as in stroke or chronic as in peripheral occlusive arterial disease. Experimental studies reveal that hypoxia induces alt erations of vascular endothelium functions. Actually, endothelium mono layer permeability is increased, leucocyte-endothelial cells interacti ons are promoted, and procoagulant prevail over anticoagulant properti es. Obviously, the availability of endothelial cell biological signals , able to reflect the extent of vascular injury during hypoxia exposur e would be of a great interest. We report here that, in patients with peripheral occlusive arterial disease, plasma thrombomodulin levels ar e closely related with the severity of limb ischaemia.