Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019045 (hemoglobinopathies)
 2,704 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

One of the genetic features of the Sardinian population is the high prevalence of hemoglobin disorders. It has been estimated that 13% to 33% of Sardinians carry a mutant allele of the alpha-globin gene (alpha-thalassemia trait) and that 6% to 17% are beta-thalassemia carriers. In this population, a single mutation of beta-globin gene (Q39X, beta(0) 39) accounts for >95% of beta-thalassemia cases. Because previous studies have shown that Sardinian beta-thalassemia carriers have lower total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than noncarriers, we wondered whether this LDL-lowering effect of the beta-thalassemia trait was also present in subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). In a group of 63 Sardinian patients with the clinical diagnosis of FH, we identified 21 unrelated probands carrying 7 different mutations of the LDL receptor gene, 2 already known (313+1 g>a and C95R) and 5 not previously reported (D118N, C255W, A378T, T413R, and Fs572). The 313+1 g>a and Fs572 mutations were found in several families. In cluster Fs572, the plasma LDL cholesterol level was 5.76+/-1.08 mmol/L in subjects with beta(0)-thalassemia trait and 8.25+/-1.66 mmol/L in subjects without this trait (P<0.001). This LDL-lowering effect was confirmed in an FH heterozygote of the same cluster who had beta(0)-thalassemia major and whose LDL cholesterol level was below the 50th percentile of the distribution in the normal Sardinian population. The hypocholesterolemic effect of beta(0)-thalassemia trait emerged also when we pooled the data from all FH subjects with and without beta(0)-thalassemia trait, regardless of the type of mutation in the LDL receptor gene. The LDL-lowering effect of beta(0)-thalassemia may be related to (1) the mild erythroid hyperplasia, which would increase the LDL removal by the bone marrow, and (2) the chronic activation of the monocyte-macrophage system, causing an increased secretion of some cytokines (interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) known to affect the hepatic secretion and the receptor-mediated removal of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. The observation that our FH subjects with beta(0)-thalassemia trait (compared with noncarriers) have an increase of blood reticulocytes (40%) and plasma levels of interleukin-6 (+60%) supports these hypotheses. The lifelong LDL-lowering effect of beta(0)-thalassemia trait might slow the development and progression of coronary atherosclerosis in FH.
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PMID:Influence of beta(0)-thalassemia on the phenotypic expression of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia : a study of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia from Sardinia. 1063 24

The coexistence of a pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE)-like syndrome in beta-thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies is a recently established clinical entity that has been observed with a significant frequency and related to some severe, even life-threatening complications. We present here a thalassemia intermedia patient who developed unstable angina in a setting of severe anemia and PXE-related coronary arterial calcification. Besides the clinical significance of this PXE-like syndrome, its acquired nature may introduce some new thoughts regarding the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Unstable angina associated with coronary arterial calcification in a thalassemia intermedia patient with a pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like syndrome. 1263 Dec 61

Approximately 5-10% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) exhibit hyporesponsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), defined as a continued need for higher than 300 IU/kg/week doses of epoetin or a 1.5 mg/kg/week dose of darbepoetin. ESA hyporesponsiveness contributes to the morbidity, mortality and health-care economic burden of ESRD patients. The most common causes of ESA resistance are absolute or functional iron deficiency and inflammation. Maintaining adequate iron stores is clearly accepted as the most important strategy for reducing the ESA requirement and for enhancing ESA efficacy. Recent clinical studies have shown that iron administration to ESRD patients is associated with an increased risk of infection and atherosclerosis. ESA hyporesponsiveness due to chronic inflammation in ESRD patients has been reported to be improved by a number of interventions, including the use of biocompatible hemodialysis membranes, ultrapure dialysate, ascorbic acid therapy, vitamin E supplementation, and statin therapy. Other causes of ESA hyporesponsiveness include inadequate dialysis, hyperparathyroidism, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, primary bone marrow disorders, myelosuppressive agents, hemoglobinopathies, hemolysis, and hypersplenism. This article summarizes the common causes of ESA hyporesponsiveness and the proposed therapeutic interventions.
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PMID:Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent hyporesponsiveness in end-stage renal disease patients. 2602 17