Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Current immunosuppression protocols in heart transplantation commonly employ an inductive phase preoperatively, which often is followed by triple therapy (azathioprine, cyclosporine, and prednisone). From 1981 to June 1987, 119 heart transplants were performed in 114 patients. Group I (n = 19) received cyclosporine preoperatively and postoperatively, as well as steroid intraoperatively and postoperatively. Group II (n = 100) received antilymphocyte globulin postoperatively and interval cyclosporine orally 5 to 7 days postoperatively when the antilymphoblast globulin was discontinued. Methylprednisolone was given intraoperatively, and 1 mg/kg was given postoperatively. Steroid was tapered to 20 mg/day within 4 weeks. Cyclosporine was removed from the early postoperative regimen to reduce the deleterious renal effects. Steroid was used in low doses and tapered quickly to lessen steroid-related complications. There was one cyclosporine-related kidney failure in group I and none in group II. In no patient was cyclosporine discontinued because of adverse effects. The rate of rejection remains acceptable. There have been eight deaths as a result of rejection (three in group I and five in group II). Three patients have died of infection (one in group I and two in group II). Since January 1987 no postoperative protective isolation has been used. Overall survival is 77%, and no patient has exhibited late coronary atherosclerosis on follow-up coronary angiography. The regimen of immunosuppression that has evolved is safe and effective and has long-term benefits.
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PMID:Benefits of avoidance of induction immunosuppression in heart transplantation. 267 16

The effects of chronic renal failure (CRF) and corticosteroid treatment on the aortic uptake of labelled free and esterified cholesterol (FC and EC) were investigated in normocholesterolemic rabbits. Methylprednisolone, 0.4 mg/day, or placebo was administered for 14 weeks to rabbits with normal renal function and with CRF. Then [3H]- and [14C]cholesterol were administered intravenously and orally, respectively. The radioactivity levels of FC and EC in plasma were measured at regular intervals. After 48 h the accumulation of 3H and 14C radioactivity of FC and EC in the intima-media of the thoracic aorta was determined. An aortic uptake coefficient was calculated by dividing the tissue radioactivity (dpm/cm2/h) by the mean plasma radioactivity (dpm/ml). The mean uptake coefficient of EC in normal rabbits was 6 nl/cm2/h, the value for FC being 180 nl/cm2/h. In normal rabbits treated with methylprednisolone the uptake coefficients of both FC and EC were significantly decreased to about 50% of the values in normal rabbits receiving placebo. A similar significant decrease in the uptake coefficients was found in the CRF rabbits receiving placebo. No further decrease was observed in the CRF rabbits treated with methylprednisolone. The cholesterol content of the aortic intima-media was significantly decreased only in CRF rabbits on methylprednisolone treatment. The results do not indicate an acceleration of uremic arterial disease by steroid treatment in the rabbit.
Atherosclerosis 1983 May
PMID:Effect of chronic renal failure and methylprednisolone treatment on the uptake of labelled plasma cholesterol into the aorta of normocholesterolemic rabbits. 687 Oct

Endothelial denudation at areas of predilection to atherosclerosis is balanced by an active repair process that may be inhibited under conditions of accelerated atherosclerosis. After cardiac transplantation, the accelerated atherosclerotic process that develops may be enhanced by immunosuppressive agents that have nonspecific effects on cell signaling, proliferation, and response to injury. To study subtle effects of cyclosporine A, azathioprine, and 6 alpha-methylprednisolone on normal endothelial repair processes, confluent porcine endothelial monolayers were denuded in the presence of clinically relevant concentrations of these agents. The rate of endothelial wound repair was compared and the effects on cell spreading, proliferation, and the cytoskeleton assessed. 6 alpha-Methylprednisolone at concentrations of 1.25 to 50 mumol/L was associated with a transient 30% to 60% inhibition of endothelial wound repair. This was associated with increased cell size at the wound edge and a delay in centrosomal reorientation toward the wound, without any effect on cell proliferation. Cyclosporine and azathioprine in clinically relevant concentrations did not affect endothelial repair. Thus, corticosteroids transiently inhibit endothelial cytoskeletal alterations that are important in endothelial repair after a denuding injury.
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PMID:Immunosuppressive agents and endothelial repair. Prednisolone delays migration and cytoskeletal rearrangement in wounded porcine aortic monolayers. 762 11

Although many cardiovascular complications have been described in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), aortic involvement is rare. We report here a 51-year-old woman who suffered from SLE and died of a rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm. She was diagnosed as having SLE in 1981, and administered prednisolone. She was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of nephrotic syndrome and hypocomplementaemia in December, 1996. Kidney biopsy revealed lupus nephritis(type IV of WHO classification). Methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide pulse therapies were started, which resulted in an incomplete remission of nephrotic syndrome. After discharge, her clinical course was uneventful, and the dose of prednisolone was tapered. On April 22, 2001, she developed sudden abdominal pain and was admitted to a nearby hospital. Abdominal CT showed calcification of the aorta and an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 6.3 x 8 cm. She died of a rupture of abdominal aneurysm on the first hospital day. We think that prolonged prednisolone therapy might play a major role in accelerating atherosclerosis, which could result in aortic aneurysmal enlargement in this patient. Considerable attention should be paid to patients with SLE who are given prednisolone to detect and prevent vascular complications such as aneurysm.
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PMID:[A case of systemic lupus erythematosus patient who died of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm]. 1463 66