Speaking of endothelial reserve in patients with peripheral arterial disease

We analysed the level of secretion of nitric oxide as the main marker of endothelial dysfunction upon endotheliotropic therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease. We found that patients with stage IIa disease according to Fontaine-Pokrovsky classification showed a better response to endotheliotropic therapy compared to patients with stage IIb disease. We introduced the term 'endothelial reserve' which implies the possibility of adequate endothelial response to the stimulating factors through nitric oxide production. At advanced stages of the disease (stages III and IV) response to endothelial stimulation may be either considerably reduced or completely lost.