Measures of endothelial dysfunction can be used to stratify risk in coronar
y artery disease and diabetes. Two studies are reviewed in which endothelia
l dysfunction was shown to be associated with an increased risk of cardiova
scular events and to predict long term atherosclerotic disease. A study tha
t showed reduced microvascular and macrovascular reactivity in subjects at
risk for type 2 diabetes, and a study indicating that endothelial dysfuncti
on precedes the development of microalbuminuria in type 1 diabetes are revi
ewed.