Endocrinology of Cardiovascular Function is a fitting inauguration to
the Endocrine Update Series. The aim of these publications is to
provide the clinician with cutting edge, yet succinct, access to the
latest advances in endocrinology. Historically, our understanding of
hormonal disturbances was restricted to the classical secretory glands
and their targets. As Endocrinology of Cardiovascular Function so
aptly indicates, endocrinology is no longer constrained by our early
physiologic understanding of glandular disorder. Endocrinology of
Cardiovascular Function has set the standard of excellence for the
future volumes in this series.
Shlomo Melmed, M.D. Series Editor, Endocrine Update
Growth factors such as IGF-1 play important roles in cardiovascular cell
hypertrophy and the response to acute vascular injury. From another
perspective, traditional endocrine hormones, such as estrogen, have been
found to participate in preventing the development of atherosclerosis in
women, acting through novel mechanisms on target vascular cells. Other
`endocrine' hormones, such as PTHRP and adrenomedullin, also modulate
cardiovascular and renovascular dynamic states, suggesting new roles for
these peptides as vasodilators. This multi-authored text is dedicated to
highlighting emerging and important new information regarding the
endocrinology of the cardiovascular system.
Ellis R. Levin, M.D.