title: Endothelial function, antioxidant status and vascular compliance in newly diagnosed HFE C282Y homozygotes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study was aimed to establish techniques for assessing and observing trends in endothelial function, antioxidant status and vascular compliance in newly diagnosed HFE haemochromatosis during the first year of venesection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Untreated newly diagnosed HFE haemochromatosis patients were tested for baseline liver function, iron indices, lipid profile, markers of endothelial function, anti-oxidant status and vascular compliance. Following baseline assessment, subjects attended at 6-weeks and at 3, 6, 9 and 12-months for follow-up studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients were recruited (M=8, F=2, mean age=51 years). Venesection significantly increased high density lipoproteins at 12-months (1.25 mmol/L vs. 1.37 mmol/L, p=0.01). However, venesection did not significantly affect lipid hydroperoxides, intracellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules or high sensitivity C-reactive protein (0.57 μmol/L vs. 0.51 μmol/L, p=0.45, 427.4 ng/ml vs. 307.22 ng/ml, p=0.54, 517.70 ng/ml vs. 377.50 ng/ml, p=0.51 and 290.75 μg/dL vs. 224.26 μg/dL, p=0.25). There was also no significant effect of venesection on anti-oxidant status or pulse wave velocity (9.65 m/s vs. 8.74 m/s, p=0.34).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Venesection significantly reduced high density lipoproteins but was not associated with significant changes in endothelial function, anti-oxidant status or vascular compliance. Larger studies using this established methodology are required to clarify this relationship further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology (Liver Unit), Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK. Electronic address: Johnny.cash@belfasttrust.hscni.net.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cash
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: McCance
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK; Department of Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Ian S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McEneny
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology (Liver Unit), Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Neil I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: McDougall
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology (Liver Unit), Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Callender
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Antioxidant; Compliance; Haemochromatosis; Vascular