Red Blood Cells as a Reflection of Endothelial Function in Old Age

It will be investigated with determination of endothelial function (measured as flow-mediated vasodilation) and of circulated nitric oxid-pool in red blood cells and in blood plasma, how far red blood cells reflect age-depended changes in endothelial function.

Groups 1-3:

Inclusion criteria

• healthy subjects
• informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• hypertension (blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg),
• hypercholesterolemia (LDL ≥250 mg/dl, HDL ≤45 mg/dl),
• diabetes mellitus (fasting plasma glucose ≥128 mg/dl)
• acute inflammation (CRP >0.5 mg/dl)
• malignant diseases
• heart failure (NYHA III-IV)
• arrhythmia of high degree
• acute or terminated kidney disease
• cardiovascular diseases ( cardiac artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular diseases)
• anemia
• pregnancy

Group 4 :

Inclusion criteria

• angiographical signs of apparent atherosclerosis (cardiac artery disease or peripheral vascular disease or degenerative valvular heart disease)
• informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Hypertension (blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg),
• Hypercholesterolemia (LDL ≥250 mg/dl, HDL ≤45 mg/dl),
• Diabetes mellitus (fasting plasma glucose ≥128 mg/dl)
• acute inflammation (CRP >0.5 mg/dl)
• malignant diseases
• heart failure (NYHA III-IV)
• arrhythmia of high degree
• acute or terminated kidney disease
• cardiovascular diseases ( cardiac artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular diseases)
• anemia
• pregnancy