BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterised in part by an imbalance of endothelial decline and endothelial repair. Erythropoietin has been connected to vasculoprotective effects such as enhanced nitric oxide production in endothelial cells and mobilisation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of erythropoietin on endothelial function and EPC mobilisation in humans with atherosclerosis. DESIGN: A prospective single-blind monocentric study of 20 patients randomly assigned to the test drug orplacebo treatment over 4 weeks. METHODS:20 Patients with stable coronary artery disease receiving optimal medical treatment with either weeklysubcutaneous injections of saline (placebo) or the recombinant erythropoietin darbepoetin (60 μg/injection) over 3 consecutive weeks. At the initial and final visits, flow mediated dilatation (FMD) was determined by ultrasound. The number of EPC was determined as the number of CD34/CD133 positive mononuclear cells in peripheral blood. RESULTS: Treatment with darbepoetin resulted in a significantly improved FMD in each patient, whereas no difference was seen in placebo-treated patients. The FMD of darbepoetin-treated patients increased by 7.5±1.64%. Additionally, an increase in peripheral blood EPC of 50±24% was seen. CONCLUSION:Darbepoetin given in addition to optimal medical treatment resulted in a significantly improved endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease, indicating a promising new atheroprotective treatment option.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterised in part by an imbalance of endothelial decline and endothelial repair. Erythropoietin has been connected to vasculoprotective effects such as enhanced nitric oxide production in endothelial cells and mobilisation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of erythropoietin on endothelial function and EPC mobilisation in humans with atherosclerosis. DESIGN: A prospective single-blind monocentric study of 20 patients randomly assigned to the test drug or placebo treatment over 4 weeks. METHODS: 20 Patients with stable coronary artery disease receiving optimal medical treatment with either weekly subcutaneous injections of saline (placebo) or the recombinant erythropoietin darbepoetin (60 μg/injection) over 3 consecutive weeks. At the initial and final visits, flow mediated dilatation (FMD) was determined by ultrasound. The number of EPC was determined as the number of CD34/CD133 positive mononuclear cells in peripheral blood. RESULTS: Treatment with darbepoetin resulted in a significantly improved FMD in each patient, whereas no difference was seen in placebo-treated patients. The FMD of darbepoetin-treated patients increased by 7.5±1.64%. Additionally, an increase in peripheral blood EPC of 50±24% was seen. CONCLUSION: Darbepoetin given in addition to optimal medical treatment resulted in a significantly improved endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease, indicating a promising new atheroprotective treatment option.
Authors: Martin Steinmetz; Dominik Nelles; Jutta Weisser-Thomas; Christian Schaefer; Georg Nickenig; Nikos Werner Journal: Clin Res Cardiol Date: 2018-04-11 Impact factor: 5.460
Authors: L M Camargo; C N França; M C Izar; H T Bianco; L S Lins; S P Barbosa; L F Pinheiro; F A H Fonseca Journal: Braz J Med Biol Res Date: 2014-05-02 Impact factor: 2.590