title: Chronic treatment with statins increases the availability of selenium in the antioxidant defence systems of hemodialysis patients.
abstract: METHODS
  Oxidative stress (OS) is enhanced in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage to glycids, proteins and nucleic acids are the main consequences of OS and are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Vitamin E and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) represent the main antioxidant systems in human cells. Selenium (Se), bound to the active sites of GSH-Pxs, plays a critical role in this antioxidant defence system. Statins are widely used and extensively investigated in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, notably in high-risk subjects. Several studies show antioxidant effects of statins not related to their lipid-lowering action. Our study aimed to compare serum Se concentration in ESRD patients on maintenance HD and in homogeneous healthy subjects and to investigate whether chronic treatment with statins may interfere with serum Se concentration in HD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 103 HD patients and 69 healthy subjects were enrolled; HD patients were divided into patients who were not treated with statins (group A) and patients who assumed statins since 6 months at least (group B). Serum Se was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum Se was significantly lower in HD patients of group A compared with healthy subjects (81.65+/-19.66 Vs. 96.47+/-15.62 mcg/L, p<0.0040). However, in HD patients who assumed statins serum, Se was significantly higher than in HD patients who did not (111.83+/-18.82 vs. 81.65+/-19.66 mcg/L, p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that in HD patients chronic treatment with statins is related to higher-serum Se concentration.
authors.affiliation: Section of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. taccone.gallucci@med.uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taccone-Gallucci
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noce
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertucci
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manca-di-Villahermosa
authors.forename: Francesca Romana
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Della-Rovere
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Francesco
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lonzi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Federici
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scaccia
authors.forename: Mariarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dessì
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014511:Uremia / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D012643:Selenium