Serum uric acid correlates with extracellular superoxide dismutase activity in patients with chronic heart failure.
Increased serum uric acid has been identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, because of its antioxidant capacity, uric acid may play a beneficial role in endothelial function. This paradoxical relationship between uric acid and endothelial function in chronic heart failure patients remains poorly understood. Thirty-eight chronic heart failure patients (New York Heart Association functional class II-III, mean age 58+/-10 years and mean left ventricular ejection fraction 25+/-8%) and twelve age-and-sex-matched healthy controls were studied. Chronic heart failure patients showed higher uric acid levels (7.3+/-2.3 mg/dL vs. 6.1+/-0.2 mg/dL, p<0.05) and lower extracellular superoxide dismutase activity (136+/-36 U ml(-1) min(-1) vs. 203+/-61 U ml(-1) min(-1), p<0.01) and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (4.0+/-1.6% v. 9.1+/-3.0%, p<0.01) when compared with control subjects. In chronic heart failure patients, correlations between both uric acid levels and extracellular superoxide dismutase activity (r=0.45; p<0.01), and uric acid and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (r=0.35; p=0.03) were detected. These correlations were not observed in healthy individuals, suggesting a positive effect of uric acid on endothelial function partially mediated by modulation of extracellular superoxide dismutase activity in chronic heart failure.
Centro FONDAP Estudios Moleculares de la Célula, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Hernan
H
Alcaino
Douglas
D
Greig
Mario
M
Chiong
Hugo
H
Verdejo
Rodrigo
R
Miranda
Roberto
R
Concepcion
José Luis
JL
Vukasovic
Guillermo
G
Diaz-Araya
Rosemarie
R
Mellado
Lorena
L
Garcia
Daniela
D
Salas
Leticia
L
Gonzalez
Ivan
I
Godoy
Pablo
P
Castro
Sergio
S
Lavandero
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D014527:Uric Acid; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase