Impaired endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasodilation may contribute to increased vasomotor tone in patients with heart failure. Whether decreased endothelium-dependent, NO-mediated vasodilation in patients with heart failure is due to decreased synthesis or increased degradation of NO is unknown.
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Division of Circulatory Physiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.