Abstract Background Rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are greater in heavy alcoholics than in either teetotallers or light-to-moderate drinkers. Objective On the assumption that factors leading to atherosclerotic damage remain operative even after long-term alcohol withdrawal, we studied the possible mechanisms of raised cardiovascular risk in former heavy alcoholics. Methods Forty-two apparently disease-free, normotensive alcoholics detoxified for 37.1W31.9 (SD) months, median 24, participated in the study. They were compared with 39 lifetime alcohol-abstaining control subjects, carefully matched for age, sex, body mass index, smoking and dietary habits, physical activity, lipids and fasting glucose. Endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery, high-resolution ultrasound technique), blood pressure, and some parameters of endothelial activation, oxidative stress, vascular inflammation and insulin sensitivity were measured. Results The maximal percentage of flow-mediated dilatation was reduced in detoxified alcoholics (10.1W4.6 versus 14.9W7.4, P < 0.001) who also showed significantly higher blood pressure (systolic 127.5W12.9 versus 118.2W10.7mmHg, P < 0.001; diastolic 79.4W7.1 versus 74.6W6.4mmHg, P < 0.01; mean 95.4W8.2 versus 89.1W7.3mmHg, P < 0.001), uric acid (5.0W1.1 versus 4.4W0.8 mg/dl, P < 0.05), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein

Endothelial Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Risk in Long-Term Withdrawing Alcoholics / CRISTIANA DI, Gennaro; Biggi, Almerina; ANGELA LUCIANA, Barilli; Elena, Fasoli; Nicoletta, Carra; Almerico, Novarini; Roberto, Delsignore; Montanari, Alberto. - In: JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION. - ISSN 0263-6352. - 25:(2007), pp. 367-373. [10.1097/HJH.0b013e328010929c]

Endothelial Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Risk in Long-Term Withdrawing Alcoholics

BIGGI, Almerina;MONTANARI, Alberto
2007-01-01

Abstract

Abstract Background Rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are greater in heavy alcoholics than in either teetotallers or light-to-moderate drinkers. Objective On the assumption that factors leading to atherosclerotic damage remain operative even after long-term alcohol withdrawal, we studied the possible mechanisms of raised cardiovascular risk in former heavy alcoholics. Methods Forty-two apparently disease-free, normotensive alcoholics detoxified for 37.1W31.9 (SD) months, median 24, participated in the study. They were compared with 39 lifetime alcohol-abstaining control subjects, carefully matched for age, sex, body mass index, smoking and dietary habits, physical activity, lipids and fasting glucose. Endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery, high-resolution ultrasound technique), blood pressure, and some parameters of endothelial activation, oxidative stress, vascular inflammation and insulin sensitivity were measured. Results The maximal percentage of flow-mediated dilatation was reduced in detoxified alcoholics (10.1W4.6 versus 14.9W7.4, P < 0.001) who also showed significantly higher blood pressure (systolic 127.5W12.9 versus 118.2W10.7mmHg, P < 0.001; diastolic 79.4W7.1 versus 74.6W6.4mmHg, P < 0.01; mean 95.4W8.2 versus 89.1W7.3mmHg, P < 0.001), uric acid (5.0W1.1 versus 4.4W0.8 mg/dl, P < 0.05), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
2007
Endothelial Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Risk in Long-Term Withdrawing Alcoholics / CRISTIANA DI, Gennaro; Biggi, Almerina; ANGELA LUCIANA, Barilli; Elena, Fasoli; Nicoletta, Carra; Almerico, Novarini; Roberto, Delsignore; Montanari, Alberto. - In: JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION. - ISSN 0263-6352. - 25:(2007), pp. 367-373. [10.1097/HJH.0b013e328010929c]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/1629149
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