Microcirculation and Cardiovascular Disease [antikvár]

Preface Harry A.). Struijker Boudier and Giuseppe Ambrosio The microcirculation has several important functions in addition to the supply of nutrients and oxygen within the tissues. It has an important role in the control of blood pressure and in inflammation, and is the site of the earliest manifestations of cardiovascular disease. The current very high level of clinical and research interest in the microcirculation is demonstrated by the large numbers of publications that have been generated: in each of the past 3 years, more than 800 papers on the subject have been published in Medline journals. A better understanding of the nature and functions of the microcirculation may well, therefore, improve the treatment of cardiovascular disease. There is a lack of uniformity in the definition of terms used to designate the blood vessels that are generally acknowledged to be included in the microcirculation; this confusion arises particularly when anatomical and functional terms are merged. This book takes a functional approach and focuses on the role of the smallest arteries and arterioles, in addition to the capillaries.This approach is in line with recent suggestions that these segments should be considered as a continuum, rather than as distinct sites of resistance control. Not only the individual segments, but alsó the way in which they are interconnected in a network, determine the function of the microcirculation. In addition, several aspects of the physiology of arterial vessels, including flow-dependent responses, are not restricted to particular categories of vessels. The overall objective of this publication is to further a better understanding of the microcirculation, and its role in cardiovascular disease. The first chapter introduces the topic in more depth.The next three chapters (2-4) deal with various aspects of the basic physiology of the microcirculation.They are followed by a section (chapters 5-9) devoted to the role of the microcirculation in pathopysiology of cardiovascular disease. The final section (chapters 10-12) covers clinical approaches and therapeutic questions. The effects of different therapeutic agents on the structure and function of the microcirculation may vary considerably; this clearly has significant implications regarding the choice of therapeutic agents to be used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.This book should, therefore, interest not only basic researchers in physiology, pathology, and pharmacology, but alsó the clinical researchers and physicians involved in treating the patients who have cardiovascular diseases. The editors are deeply grateful to the authors for their contributions.They thank Dávid Oldfield, Isabelle Rameau, Ellie Ostime, and Liz O'Donnell of Lippincott Williams Sc Wilkins Healthcare for invaluable advice and help in the preparation of this publication.