Gerald Reaven, the discoverer of Syndrome X, and a panel of world-class investigators thoughtfully summarize our current understanding of how insulin resistance and its compensating hyperinsulinemia play a major role in the pathogenesis and clinical course of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease-the so-called diseases of Western civilization. These distinguished authorities detail, for the first time, the pathophysiological consequences and the clinical syndromes, excluding Type 2 diabetes, related to insulin resistance. They also examine the genetic and lifestyle factors that contribute to the wide differences in insulin action that exist in the population at large. Timely and authoritative, Insulin Resistance: The Metabolic Syndrome X illuminates the full importance of insulin resistance as a major cause of hypertension, heart disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Zusammenfassung
This text summarizes understanding of the role of insulin, particularly related to nondiabetic clinical syndromes. It focuses on factors that contribute to differences in insulin action, pathophysiologic consequences of insulin resistance, and the clinical syndromes related to insulin resistance.

Inhalt
I Genetic and Environmental Factors Affecting Insulin Action.- 1 Genetics of Insulin Resistance.- 2 Ethnic Variation in Insulin Resistance and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes.- 3 Fetal Effects on Insulin Resistance and Glucose Tolerance.- 4 Obesity and Insulin Resistance: Epidemiologic, Metabolic, and Molecular Aspects.- 5 The Role of Body Fat Distribution in Insulin Resistance.- 6 Physical Activity and Insulin Resistance in Man.- 7 Insulin Resistance in Smokers and Other Long-Term Users of Nicotine.- II Pathophysiology of Insulin Resistance.- 8 Insulin Resistance and Inhibitors of Insulin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase.- 9 NMR Studies on the Mechanism of Insulin Resistance.- 10 Skeletal Muscle Insulin Resistance in Humans: Cellular Mechanisms.- 11 The Role of the Liver in Insulin Action and Resistance.- 12 The Pathophysiological Consequences of Adipose Tissue Insulin Resistance.- 13 Insulin Action and Endothelial Function.- III Clinical Syndromes Associated with Insulin Resistance.- 14 Insulin Resistance and Dyslipidemia: Implications for Coronary Heart Disease Risk.- 15 Insulin Resistance and Blood Pressure.- 16 Microalbuminuria and Insulin Resistance.- 17 PAI-1, Obesity, and Insulin Resistance.- 18 Insulin Resistance and Cardiovascular Disease.- 19 Insulin Resistance Effects on Sex Hormones and Ovulation in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.