title: Steroid pulse therapy impaired endothelial function while increasing plasma high molecule adiponectin concentration in patients with IgA nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decreased plasma adiponectin is associated with impaired endothelial function and, thereby, increased risk for cardiovascular events. Glucocorticoid (GC) affects vascular endothelial cells either favourably or harmfully depending upon the dosages and duration. We examined the effect of GC pulse therapy on vascular endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen young patients with IgA nephropathy were evaluated for flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), plasma levels of adiponectin both in high molecular weight (HMW adiponectin) form and in single molecular form (total adiponectin), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein, before and after a course of GC pulse therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GC pulse therapy significantly decreased FMD (from 7.2 +/- 2.6 to 5.7 +/- 2.5%, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, plasma adiponectin levels were significantly augmented (total adiponectin: from 10.2 +/- 4.0 to 12.1 +/- 6.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05; HMW: from 6.5 +/- 3.2 to 7.7 +/- 3.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05). In parallel, elevated concentrations of serum HGF (from 0.28 +/- 0.12 to 0.63 +/- 0.38 ng/ml, P < 0.01) and plasma ADMA (from 0.45 +/- 0.07 to 0.53 +/- 0.04 nmol/ml, P < 0.05) were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GC pulse therapy impaired endothelial function while increasing plasma adiponectin levels, which may in turn restore the endothelial function in patients with IgA nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruhito Adam
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaihara
authors.forename: Hisanao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Norii
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hanayama
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeshima
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makino
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone