| title: | Scientific elaboration of complex assessment of endothelial function (pulse wave analysis, coronary angiography, immunohistochemistry, biochemical markers) for clinical use |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5833 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
3.1. Basic Medicine 3.3. Clinical Medicine |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | TU Faculty of Medicine |
| head of project: | Rein Teesalu |
| duration: | 01.01.2004 - 31.12.2007 |
| description: | Endothelial dysfunction occurs before the appearance of clinical signs and progression of cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, stroke and renal insufficiency). Therefore, complex assessment of endothelial function allows to obtain relevant information about adequate atherogenic status, thereby making it possible to use earlier targeted prevention strategies for cardiovascular diseases. Several invasive and noninvasive methods are used to estimate endothelial function. At present there is a tendency towards wider use of noninvasive methods for endothelial testing Brachial artery ultrasound is a widely used noninvasive measure of endothelial function. Also, noninvasive measures of arterial compliance and waveform morphology (pulse wave analysis) provide a marker of endothelial function. Pulse wave analysis (PWA) is a novel, simple, reproducible, noninvasive method to assess endothelial function and to find out endothelial dysfunction prior to clinical signs in a large number of patients. In this project we use PWA as the main method to assess endothelial function. In addition to these instrumental methods, there are a number of circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation (usCRP,ICAM,oxLDL). In this project we analyse several biomarkers related to endothelial dysfunction due to oxidative stress, chronic inflammation of vascular wall and dyslipidemia. The identification and characterization of inflammatory components or their genes in atherosclerotic plaque allow to understand several aspects of atherogenesis, plaque disruption and endothelial function. Also, it is planned to analyze immunohistochemically (antibodies against CRP, ICAM) atherosclerotic plaque removed within reconstructive operation. Prevention of endothelial damage is very important in reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It was shown that antioxidative vitamins (vitamin C and E) prevent endothelium dysfunction in patients with ischemic heart disease, dilatative cardiomypathia and peripheral artery occlusive disease. We will also start drug intervention trials to affect endothelium with vitamins C and E and will launch a project in which we compare different methods (PWA vs coronary angiography) for endothelial assessment. The long-term goal of this project is the scientific elaboration and introduction in clinical practice a new approach for detecting the earliest damage in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases - complex assessment of endothelial function, which would yield in a significant socioeconomic outcome in the future. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Andres Arend | University of Tartu | dotsent, juhataja | |
| 2. | Jaan Eha | TÜ Kardioloogia Kliinik | juhataja, dotsent | |
| 3. | Jaak Kals | University of Tartu | doktorant | |
| 4. | Priit Kampus | TÜ Kardioloogia Kliinik | doktorant | |
| 5. | Andres Pulges | TÜ Kardiovaskulaar-ja torakaalkirurgia Kliinik | dotsent, juhataja | |
| 6. | Priit Põder | TÜ Kardiovaskulaar-ja torakaalkirurgia Kliinik | doktorant | |
| 7. | Enn Rebane | TÜ Kardiovaskulaar-ja torakaalkirurgia Kliinik | juhataja, vanemassistent | |
| 8. | Kersti Zilmer | University of Tartu | vanemteadur | |
| 9. | Rein Teesalu | TU Faculty of Medicine | Professor,head of department | |