Como Coordinador General del Simposio sobre Función Endotelial es un gran orgullo poderles ofrecer este Simposio dirigido a los Profesionales de la Salud y que revisa el conocimiento de algunos aspectos del órgano endotelial para un mejor manejo de patologías tan importantes como la ateroesclerosis, hipertensión arterial, dislipidemias, diabetes mellitus, falla cardiaca, preeclampsia, entre otras. Son objetivos específicos prevenir el avance de la ateroesclerosis y sus complicaciones en el eje cardio-renal-metabólico.

Evolution in treatment of arterial hypertension has changed from monotherapy with high doses of diuretics as recommended by the "Joint National Committee I" (JNC) in 1977 to low doses of combined therapy as suggested by the JNC VII in 2003. A review of progress in antihypertensive therapies and current recommendations is done.

Atherosclerosis starts early in life. The presence of risk factors like hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia and diabetes as well as obesity and metabolic syndrome accelerates its progress. These factors generate endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation, with early appearance of foamy cells, fatty streaks and atheromatous plaques. These plaques are vulnerable to erosion and rupture, the so called atherothrombotic phenomenon, leading to acute vascular events like acute coronary or cerebrovascular syndromes. Managing and treating the metabolic syndrome, early markers of cardiovascular risk, could slow down end organ aging and damage, probably without reduction of mortality but focusing on three fundamental aspects of early detection of subclinical atherothrombosis: prevention of cardiovascular events, protection of end organs, and improvement of quality of life.

Obesity is a chronic multifactorial disease that has reached global epidemic proportions, representing a complex medical condition with serious social and psychological consequences. The excess of visceral adiposity is associated with a plethora of metabolic dysfunctions (insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, hypertension, decreased fibrinolysis, increased risk of thrombosis, endothelial inflammation) that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The strategies proposed for the correct therapeutic approach must be in accordance with the severity of overweight, the presence of chronic coexisting diseases and the functional limitations of each individual.

William Harvey, en 1628, describió la circulación de la sangre como un estado hemodinámico dependiente del corazón, al cual propuso como una bomba aspirante e impelente que envía la sangre a los tejidos encargados de la nutrición y la excreción, así, consideró a la vasculatura como un conductor sanguíneo.

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are frequent complications considered an important cause of maternal and/or fetal morbidity and mortality. The various current guidelines on the management of hypertension during pregnancy agree to treat patients with blood pressure ≥ 160/105-110 mmHg due to a high risk of stroke, and to normalize the blood pressure to < 140/90 if there is end-organ damage. The evidence concludes that treatment of low to moderate hypertension reduces the risk to develop uncontrolled hypertension, but does not prevent preeclampsia. Regarding the choice of drug, none of the recommended agents is considered a first option because no data support either of them.

William Harvey, en 1628, describió la circulación de la sangre como un estado hemodinámico dependiente del corazón, al cual propuso como una bomba aspirante e impelente que envía la sangre a los tejidos encargados de la nutrición y la excreción, así, consideró a la vasculatura como un conductor sanguíneo.