Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases and the Capillary Endothelium in Subjects with Different Levels of Normal Blood Pressure

The capillary circulation in the forearm and crus was studied by occlusion plethysmography at rest and upon stimulation with nitric oxide during reactive hyperemia in 249 virtually healthy subjects with different levels of arterial blood pressure lower than 140/90 mm Hg. Specific features of the microcirculation were found in the forearm and crus depending on the blood pressure level. An increase in the blood pressure higher than 120/80 mm Hg was associated with an increased adverse effect of integral risk factors and heredity on parameters of the capillary circulation, especially in women.