The aim of this study is to find out, how far red blood cells reflect age-depended changes in endothelial function.

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

4 groups:

• healthy young aged 18-35 years (30 subjects)
• healthy middel aged 35-45 years (30 subjects)
• healthy old aged > 70 years (30 subjects)
• patients (50 subjects)