Serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels in patients with restless legs syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the predisposition for atherosclerosis in patients with RLS through serum sLOX-1 (serum Lectin-Like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1) measurements. BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiological studies have suggested an association of RLS with certain chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, hypertension (HT), and hyperlipidemia. LOX-1 is expressed in endothelial cells, macrophages, and in smooth muscle cells under the effect of proatherogenic conditions. METHODS: This study was a prospective, cross-sectional, case-controlled. We measured the serum sLOX-1 levels in 37 restless legs syndrome patients and 38 controls. RESULTS: Serum sLOX-1 level was significantly lower in the patient group. The two groups were similar in glucose, HbA1c, creatinine, LDL cholesterol, TG, HDL, total protein, albumin, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, HGB, HCT, MCV, transferrin saturation rate (TSR), ferritin, CRP, TSH, FT4, FT3, B12, and folic acid levels. Also the two groups were similar with respect to age at menarche, number of previous births, number of abortions and/or curettage, total duration of breastfeeding, percentage of patients in menopause, and age at menopause. CONCLUSION: Our results may suggest a lower atherosclerotic risk among RLS patients as compared to the general population (Tab. 3, Ref. 33).

Association of calcium antagonist use with lower hemoglobin levels in hemodialysis patients.

AIM: Objective of the present study was to investigate whether calcium antagonist use is associated with lower hemoglobin levels and/or higher erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) requirement in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: A total of 130 adult hemodialysis patients were classified into two groups based on calcium antagonist usage for a period of at least 3 months as calcium antagonist users and calcium antagonist non-users. The two groups were compared cross-sectionally in a retrospective manner in terms of demographics, chronic kidney disease aetiologies, Charlson's Comorbidty Index, blood pressure, type of dialysis access, interdialytic body weight gain, cardiothoracic index, complete blood count, biochemistry, regular medication use and consumption of ESA. All independent variables that were different between the groups were subjected to logistic regression analysis. Linear regression analysis with dependent variable of hemoglobin value was also performed RESULTS: ESA consumption and blood pressure were higher, diabetic nephropathy, doxazosin and ACE inhibitor use were more frequent, and hemoglobin was lower in the calcium antagonist users. After logistic regression analysis, diabetic nephropathy, doxazosin use, ACE inhibitor use and lower hemoglobin were associated with calcium antagonist use. After lineer regression analysis, Age, BMI, gender, predialysis creatinine value, dialysis duration, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, doxazosin use, diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy were not related with hemoglobin value. But, higher amount of ESA consumption, ACE inhibitor use and calcium antagonist use were significantly associated with lower hemoglobin value. CONCLUSION: CA use was associated with lower hemoglobin levels in our hemodialysis patient population.