| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2018 | Volume
: 9
| Issue : 1 | Page : 16-21 |
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Statins for endothelial dysfunction in sickle cell disease: A cohort study
Hassna Al-Janabi1, Farqad B Hamdan1, Waseem F Al-Tameemi2
1 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
2 Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Waseem F Al-Tameemi
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad
Iraq
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/joah.joah_60_17
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Background: The sickling process of sickle cell disease (SCD) has harmful effects on the vascular endothelium manifested as vascular blockade, diminished tissue oxygenation, and consequently reperfusion injury. Statins pleiotropic effects can be demonstrated through improvement of endothelial function. Studies on the role of statins (e.g., atorvastatin) on endothelial dysfunction in SCD are minimal.
Objective: The objective is to assess the possible therapeutic use of atorvastatin in patients with SCD.
Subjects and Methods: Thirty SCD patients (15 female and 15 male) with a mean age of 27.0 ± 8.9 years and 30 healthy controls (18 female and 12 male) with a mean age of 29.7 ± 9.1 years participated in the study. Endothelial function was assessed with flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and endothelial independent dilatation (EID) of the brachial and common carotid arteries at baseline and after 6 weeks therapy with atorvastatin, 20 mg/day.
Results: SCD patients had diminished FMD% and EID% values compared with corresponding values in the controls. The values were improved significantly after atorvastatin treatment (P = 0.002 for FMD%; P = 0.001 for EDI%).
Conclusion: SCD patients have endothelial dysfunction. Atorvastatin, 20 mg daily for 6 weeks, improved the markers of endothelial function, FMD%, and EID%, in these patients. |
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