Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2025; 122(5): e20250179

Endothelial Function by Flow-Mediated Dilation (FMD) in the Brachial Artery in Hypertensive Patients

Rui Póvoa

DOI: 10.36660/abc.20250179i

This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Endothelial Function by Flow-Mediated Dilation (FMD) in the Brachial Artery in Hypertensive Patients".

A few years ago, it was believed that the endothelium was simply the inner lining of blood vessels, representing a simple mechanical barrier. Today, there is profound evidence of the importance of this thin layer of cells in the regulation of vascular tone and in several other functions, mainly in cell growth, interaction between leukocytes, tissue inflammation, and synthesis of vasoregulatory substances. The regulation of vascular tone involves the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway, which has strong vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

A healthy endothelium is important for good vascular homeostasis since endothelial dysfunction plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as arterial and pulmonary hypertension, cardiomyopathies, vasculitis, and, quite objectively, in the formation of atherosclerosis.^, The bioavailability of NO is considered one of the critical factors in hypertensive patients, including in the early stages of the disease and not only in the final event of the dysfunction, which is atherosclerosis.

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