Chronic treatment with statins increases the availability of selenium in the antioxidant defence systems of hemodialysis patients.
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.
Taccone-Gallucci
Massimo
M
Section of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. taccone.gallucci@med.uniroma2.it
Noce
Annalisa
A
Bertucci
Pierfrancesco
P
Fabbri
Claudia
C
Manca-di-Villahermosa
Simone
S
Della-Rovere
Francesca Romana
FR
De Francesco
Marianna
M
Lonzi
Maurizio
M
Federici
Giorgio
G
Scaccia
Franco
F
Dessì
Mariarita
M
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
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D012643:Selenium