Disordered vascular compliance in haemochromatosis

W. J. Cash*, S. O'Neill, M. E. O'Donnell, D. R. McCance, I. S. Young, J. McEneny, I. S. Cadden, Neil I. McDougall, M. E. Callender

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: A relationship may exist between body iron stores, endothelial dysfunction and overall cardiovascular risk.

Aims: To compare vascular compliance, biochemical endothelial function and antioxidant status between patients with homozygous hereditary haemochromatosis and healthy controls.

Methods: Haemochromatosis patients and healthy controls were recruited. Measures of vascular compliance were assessed by applanation tonometry. Serological markers of endothelial function (plasma lipid hydroperoxides, cell adhesion molecules), antioxidant levels (ascorbate, lipid soluble antioxidants) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were also measured.

Results: Thirty-five hereditary haemochromatosis patients (ten females, mean age 54.6) and 36 controls (27 female, mean age 54.0) were recruited. Haemochromatosis patients had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was significantly higher in male haemochromatosis patients (9.90 vs. 8.65 m/s, p = 0.048). Following adjustment for age and blood pressure, male haemochromatosis patients continued to have a trend for higher PWVs (+1.37 m/s, p = 0.058). Haemochromatosis patients had significantly lower levels of ascorbate (46.11 vs. 72.68 lmol/L, p = 0.011), retinol (1.17 vs. 1.81 lmol/L, p = 0.001) and g-tocopherol (2.51 vs. 3.14 lmol/L, p = 0.011). However, there was no difference in lipid hydroperoxides (0.46 vs. 0.47 nmol/L, p = 0.94), cell adhesion molecule levels (ICAM: 348.12 vs. 308.03 ng/mL, p = 0.32 and VCAM: 472.78 vs. 461.31 ng/mL, p = 0.79) or high-sensitivity CRP (225.01 vs. 207.13 mg/L, p = 0.32).

Conclusions: Haemochromatosis is associated with higher PWVs in males and diminished antioxidants across the sexes but no evidence of endothelial dysfunction or increased lipid peroxidation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)303-309
Number of pages7
JournalIrish journal of medical science
Volume183
Issue number2
Early online date03 Sept 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2014

Keywords

  • Antioxidant
  • Arterial
  • Compliance
  • Haemochromatosis
  • Iron
  • Vascular
  • BODY IRON STORES
  • CORONARY-ARTERY-DISEASE
  • ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION
  • INDUCED BLOOD-COAGULATION
  • LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN
  • PULSE-WAVE VELOCITY
  • C-REACTIVE PROTEIN
  • HEART-DISEASE
  • IDIOPATHIC HEMOCHROMATOSIS
  • HEREDITARY HEMOCHROMATOSIS

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