Figure 1From: Hydrogen sulfide as a vasculoprotective factorThe balance between vascular relaxant and constrictor factors. The balance of vasoactive factors maintains vascular tone. Vasodilator factors also have anti-proliferative and anti-thrombotic effects, whereas vasoconstrictor factors tend to also have proliferative and/or pro-thrombotic effects. Increases in vasoconstrictor factors or decreases in vasorelaxant factors favour vascular contraction and other pathophysiological changes detrimental to vascular health [18]. PGI2: prostacyclin, ET-1: endothelin-1, TXA2: thromboxane A2, AII: angiotensin II.Back to article page