| 1. |
- Leonsson, M, et al.
(author)
-
Increased Interleukin-6 levels in pituitary-deficient patients are independently related to their carotid intima-media thickness.
- 2003
-
In: Clinical endocrinology. - 0300-0664. ; 59:2, s. 242-50
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has been observed in patients with pituitary deficiency and untreated growth hormone deficiency (GHD). We investigated peripheral inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers and their associations with arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) in GHD.Cross-sectional study.Thirty-four patients with GHD, but without cardiovascular disease, were compared to healthy controls matched for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits.IMT of the common carotid artery, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity and tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPA-ag) were measured.Median IL-6 concentrations were increased by 208% and 248% in GHD patients compared to BMI-matched and nonobese controls, respectively. Median CRP and tPA-ag levels were increased by 237% and 167% in patients compared to nonobese controls, but not significantly different compared to BMI-matched controls. Plasma levels of fibrinogen and PAI-1 activity did not differ between groups. Age, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, tPA-ag and IL-6 were positively correlated, and IGF-I was negatively correlated to IMT in the patient group, but only age and IL-6 were independently related to IMT.IL-6 concentrations were increased in GHD patients compared to controls and independently related to IMT in patients. This finding may help to explain the variance in IMT and the increased vascular morbidity and mortality in hypopituitary patients with GHD.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Wikstrand, J, et al.
(author)
-
Antiatherosclerotic effects of beta-blockers
- 2003
-
In: American Journal of Cardiology. - 1879-1913. ; 91:12, Suppl. 1, s. 25-29
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Accumulating data from studies in animals and humans indicate that beta-blockade has antiatherosclerotic effects. To date, 2 long-term ultrasound studies provide the strongest evidence. The Beta-Blocker Cholesterol-Lowering Asymptomatic Plaque Study (BCAPS) trial reported favorable effects with beta-blockade on early stages of atherosclerosis in patients with carotid plaque but no symptoms of carotid artery disease. Compared with placebo, metoprolol controlled release/extended release (CR/XL) 25 mg once daily significantly reduced plaque thickness after 18 months of treatment (net difference -0.058 mm/year; p <0.001) and at 3 years' follow-up (net difference -0.023 mm/year; p = 0.018). The Effects of Long-Term Treatment of Metoprolol CR/XL on Surrogate Variables for Atherosclerotic Disease (ELVA) trial demonstrated that β-blockers and statins affect different mechanisms in the atherosclerotic process and have additive beneficial effects. Patients with hypercholesterolemia were randomized to metoprolol CR/XL 100 mg once daily or placebo once daily and concomitant statin therapy. The metoprolol CR/XL group had a significantly lower rate of progression of the composite carotid bulb intima-media thickness (IMT) plus common carotid IMT than the placebo group, both at I year (-0.08 vs -0.01 mm; p = 0.004) and after 3 years' follow-up (-0.06 vs +0.03 mm; p = 0.011). Several factors may contribute to the mechanism of benefit in these trials, including reduced sympathetic activity, improved hemodynamic parameters, and direct effects on the vascular enclothelium. (C) 2003 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.
|
|
| 6. |
- Holmlund, A., et al.
(author)
-
Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is related to endothelial vasodilatory function in healthy individuals
- 2002
-
In: Atherosclerosis. - 0021-9150 .- 1879-1484. ; 165:2, s. 271-276
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between markers of systemic and vascular inflammation, and indicators of vascular morphology and function. METHODS: In 59 apparently healthy individuals, we measured serum levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin. Endothelium-dependent (EDV) and -independent (EIDV) vasodilatation was evaluated in the forearm by venous occlusion plethysmography and local infusions of methacholine and sodium nitroprussid. Endothelial function index (EFI) was expressed as the EDV/EIDV ratio. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery was investigated with ultrasound (far wall). RESULTS: EFI was inversely related only to ICAM-1 (r=-0.31, P<0.02) by univariate analysis. This association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, blood pressure, smoking and serum cholesterol. EFI did not relate to hsCRP, VCAM-1 or E-selectin. Neither hsCRP, nor the adhesion molecules were significantly related to carotid artery IMT. CONCLUSION: ICAM-1 was related to endothelial vasodilatory function, but not to IMT, suggesting that endothelial inflammatory activation is related to an impaired vascular relaxation in apparently healthy individuals.
|
|
