Oxidised low-density lipoprotein and arterial function in β-thalassemia major

Authors: Stakos, Dimitrios A.¹; Tavridou, Anna²; Margaritis, Dimitrios³; Tziakas, Dimitrios N.¹; Kotsianidis, Ioannis³; Chalikias, George K.¹; Tsatalas, Kostantinos³; Bourikas, George³; Manolopoulos, Vangelis G.²; Boudoulas, Harisios⁴

Source: European Journal of Haematology, Volume 82, Number 6, June 2009 , pp. 477-483(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

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Abstract:

Objectives:

Vascular abnormalities such as endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness have been described in patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM). Increased concentrations of oxidised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (oxLDL) have been observed in those patients, but possible associations between oxLDL and arterial function in β-TM have not been defined. Methods:

Twenty-six patients (11 males) with β-TM (age 23 ± 4 yr) and 30 age and gender-matched healthy subjects were studied. Aortic stiffness was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWVc-f) using applanation tonometry; brachio-radial artery stiffness was assessed by carotid-radial PWV (PWVc-r). Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and oxLDL (ELISA) were also measured. Results:

Patients with β-TM had higher oxLDL levels (68.6 ± 13.7 mU/mg vs. 50.0 ± 12.6 mU/mg, P = 0.005), decreased FMD (3.6 ± 2.5% vs. 7.3 ± 3.5%, P = 0.001) and higher PWVc-f compared with controls (8.4 ± 1.7 vs. 7.2 ± 1.1. P < 0.002). FMD of the brachial artery was negatively associated with OxLDL concentrations in simple linear (r² = −0.25, P = 0.001) and multiple linear regression analysis (β = −0.242, P = 0.03, R² = 0.43, P = 0.0002). PWVc-r was positively associated with OxLDL (r² = 0.23, P = 0.003) and showed a tendency in multiple regression analysis (β = 0.18, P = 0.05). PWVc-r and FMD were also significantly correlated (β = −0.213, P = 0.04) in β-TM patients. There was no association between oxLDL and PWVc-f. Conclusion:

An association between oxLDL, arterial elastic properties and endothelial dysfunction of muscular arteries was found. OxLDL may represent a contributing factor for the vascular manifestations described in β-TM patients.

Keywords: oxidised LDL; β-thalassemia major; arterial stiffness; flow-mediated dilatation

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0609.2009.01236.x

Affiliations: 1: Cardiology Division, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis 2: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis 3: Thalassemia Unit, Hematology Division, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis 4: Center for Clinical Research, Foundation of Biomedical Research, Academy of Athens, Greece

Publication date: 2009-06-01

Oxidised low-density lipoprotein and arterial function in β-thalassemia major

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