RESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effect of statins in Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) on endothelial function, anti-oxidant status and vascular compliance. METHODS: Primary biliary cirrhosis patients with hypercholesterolaemia were randomized to receive 20 mg simvastatin or placebo in a single blind, randomized controlled trial. Body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, liver function, lipid profile, immunoglobulin levels, serological markers of endothelial function and anti-oxidant status were measured as well as vascular compliance, calculated from pulse wave analysis and velocity, at recruitment and again at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. RESULTS: Twenty-one PBC patients (F = 20, mean age = 55) were randomized to simvastatin 20 mg (n = 11) or matched placebo (n = 10). At completion of the trial, serum cholesterol levels in the simvastatin group were significantly lower compared with the placebo group (4.91 mmol/L vs. 6.15 mmol/L, P = 0.01). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels after 12 months were also significantly lower in the simvastatin group (2.33 mmol/L vs. 3.53 mmol/L, P = 0.01). After 12 months of treatment, lipid hydroperoxides were lower (0.49 µmol/L vs. 0.59 µmol/L, P = 0.10) while vitamin C levels were higher (80.54 µmol/L vs. 77.40 µmol/L, P = 0.95) in the simvastatin group. Pulse wave velocity remained similar between treatment groups at 12 months (8.45 m/s vs. 8.80 m/s, P = 0.66). Only one patient discontinued medication owing to side effects. No deterioration in liver transaminases was noted in the simvastatin group. CONCLUSIONS: Statin therapy in patients with PBC appears safe and effective towards overall reductions in total cholesterol and LDL levels. Our initial study suggests that simvastatin may also confer advantageous effects on endothelial function and antioxidant status.
Assuntos
Inibidores de Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Redutases/uso terapêutico , Cirrose Hepática Biliar/tratamento farmacológico , Sinvastatina/uso terapêutico , Ácido Ascórbico/sangue , Biomarcadores/sangue , Colesterol/sangue , Endotélio Vascular/efeitos dos fármacos , Endotélio Vascular/metabolismo , Endotélio Vascular/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Hemodinâmica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Inibidores de Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Redutases/efeitos adversos , Hipercolesterolemia/sangue , Hipercolesterolemia/tratamento farmacológico , Mediadores da Inflamação/sangue , Peróxidos Lipídicos/sangue , Lipoproteínas LDL/sangue , Cirrose Hepática Biliar/sangue , Cirrose Hepática Biliar/diagnóstico , Cirrose Hepática Biliar/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Irlanda do Norte , Análise de Onda de Pulso , Sinvastatina/efeitos adversos , Método Simples-Cego , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do Tratamento , Rigidez Vascular/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
PURPOSE: This pilot study was aimed to establish techniques for assessing and observing trends in endothelial function, antioxidant status and vascular compliance in newly diagnosed HFE haemochromatosis during the first year of venesection. PATIENTS/METHODS: Untreated newly diagnosed HFE haemochromatosis patients were tested for baseline liver function, iron indices, lipid profile, markers of endothelial function, anti-oxidant status and vascular compliance. Following baseline assessment, subjects attended at 6-weeks and at 3, 6, 9 and 12-months for follow-up studies. RESULTS: Ten patients were recruited (M=8, F=2, mean age=51 years). Venesection significantly increased high density lipoproteins at 12-months (1.25 mmol/L vs. 1.37 mmol/L, p=0.01). However, venesection did not significantly affect lipid hydroperoxides, intracellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules or high sensitivity C-reactive protein (0.57 µmol/L vs. 0.51 µmol/L, p=0.45, 427.4 ng/ml vs. 307.22 ng/ml, p=0.54, 517.70 ng/ml vs. 377.50 ng/ml, p=0.51 and 290.75 µg/dL vs. 224.26 µg/dL, p=0.25). There was also no significant effect of venesection on anti-oxidant status or pulse wave velocity (9.65 m/s vs. 8.74 m/s, p=0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Venesection significantly reduced high density lipoproteins but was not associated with significant changes in endothelial function, anti-oxidant status or vascular compliance. Larger studies using this established methodology are required to clarify this relationship further.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Vasos Sanguíneos/fisiopatologia , Endotélio Vascular/fisiopatologia , Hemocromatose/fisiopatologia , Adulto , Idoso , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Proteína C-Reativa/metabolismo , Feminino , Seguimentos , Homozigoto , Humanos , Peróxidos Lipídicos/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Gradação de Tumores , Projetos Piloto , Prognóstico , Análise de Onda de Pulso , Adulto JovemRESUMO
AIM: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic disease which is associated with hypercholesterolaemia. Further, cholestatic diseases are associated with deficiencies of anti-oxidant vitamins. Despite these associations PBC is not associated with an increase in cardiovascular mortality. The aim of this study is to assess if primary biliary cirrhosis is associated with oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and alteration of vascular compliance which is a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk. METHODS: Fifty-one PBC patients and 34 control subjects were studied. Lipid soluble vitamins A, and E in addition to ascorbate and carotenoids were measured to assess anti-oxidant status. C-reactive protein, hydroperoxides and adhesion molecules sICAM-l/sVCAM-l were assessed as serological measures of endothelial function. Finally, measures of vascular compliance were assessed by applanation tonometer. RESULTS: CRP, sICAM and sVCAM were all significantly higher in PBC patients (469.14 vs 207.13, P < 0.001; 768.12 vs 308.03,P < 0.001; 708.40 vs 461.31, P < 0.001) whilst anti-oxidant vitamin levels were lower in PBC patients, with ascorbate, vitamin E and vitamin A all significantly lower in PBC patients (39.91 vs 72.68, P < 0.001; 2.63 vs 3.14, P = 0.02; 1.08 vs 1.81, P < 0.001). Despite these findings PBC patients have a lower pulse wave velocity than control subjects (8.22 m/s vs 8.78 m/s, P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: PBC patients appear to have reduced vascular risk as assessed by pulse wave velocity but concurrently have evidence of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and anti-oxidant deficiency.