The Endothelium, A Protagonist in the Pathophysiology of Critical Illness: Focus on Cellular Markers

Figure 2

Endothelial dysfunction in SAH. SAH: subarachnoid hemorrhage. In subarachnoid hemorrhage, the development of delayed cerebral ischemia is a multifactorial process in which besides macrovascular vasospasm; thromboembolism, disturbed autoregulation, microvascular dysfunction, and cortical spreading depression are involved. Endothelial dysfunction is a key factor in the development of these processes. It is not clarified yet if local and general inflammation are causal factors or bystanders in the development of secondary ischemia.