Caio Roberto Chimenti Auriemo

Risk factors for atherosclerosis in students of a private university in São Paulo - Brazil

OBJECTIVE To characterize the risk profile for atherosclerosis (AS) in adolescents and young adults of a private university in São Paulo. METHODS Clinical, nutritional, and laboratory parameters were evaluated in 209 students of both genders aged 17 to 25 years. In addition to determination of the lipid profile, the association of its abnormal values with other risk factors for AS was also investigated. RESULTS Increased levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides (TG) were observed in 9.1%, 7.6% and 16.3% of the students, respectively, and decreased levels of HDL-C in 8.6% of them. Prevalence of the remaining risk factors analyzed was elevated: sedentary life style (78.9%); high intake of total fat (77.5%); high cholesterol intake (35.9%); smoking, hypertension (15.8%) and obesity (7.2%). There was an association between elevated LDL-C and TG levels and sedentary life style and body mass index. CONCLUSION The high prevalence of risk factors for AS in young individuals draws attention to the need for adopting preventive plans.

Fibrinogênio como fator de risco independente de doença vascular cerebral

We have studied fibrinogen levels (Clauss technique) in atherothrombotic ischemic stroke patients, in order to determine its role as a thombogenic risk factor. Twenty nine patients (20 men and 9 women) between 25 and 79 years old were studied; they all have had a atherothrombotic stroke. They were classified into two groups according to the result of their carotid doppler ultrasonography: g1 - without carotid flow reduction (n=l 9) and g2 - with carotid flow reduction (n=10). The fibrinogen mean value was 269mg/dl in gl and 353 mg/dl in g2. There were 47% of patients in gl and 80% of patients in g2 who presented levels >300 mg/dl. The proportions of the groups were significantly different (p<0,05). Considering the epidemiological value of 300 mg/dl, we conclude that the fibrinogen can be an independent risk factor for ischemic atherothrombotic stroke, specially in those whose carotid flow is reduced.

Terapia combinada de colestiramina e inibidores da HMG-CoA redutase na prevenção secundária da doença coronária

PURPOSE: To evaluate lipid profile changes associated with cholestyramine addition in hypercholesterolemic patients with established coronary heart disease under treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inihibtors that had not achieved the ideal value of LDL-cholesterol. METHODS: Twenty patients with coronary heart disease, (12 submitted to coronary artery bypass grafts, 3 to coronary angioplasty and 5 maintened under clinical management) with mean age of 60.78 years old, who were under hypolipemic diet and were medicated with lovastatin 20mg/d or simvastatin 10mg/d, received cholestyramine, doses ranging from 8 to 16g/day during 8 weeks, aiming to reduce LDL-cholesterol to values less than 100mg/dL. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction of total cholesterol, from initial mean value of 239.52mg/dL to final mean value of 199.00mg/dL, with a mean reduction of 16.92%. The mean value of LDL-cholesterol was also reduced significantly from 172.73mg/dL to 118.26mg/dL, with a mean reduction of 31.53%. Mean triglyceridemia increased, still within the normal reference values, from 145.05mg/dL to 162.00mg/dL, and the mean difference was 11.69%. There was a significant increase of HDL-cholesterol fraction from an initial mean value of 38.00mg/dL to a final mean value of 48.21mg/dL, mean difference of 26.87%. Side effects were not frequent, and did not interfere in the duration of the study. CONCLUSION: The association of cholestyramine to HMG-CoA reductase inihibtors, both in low doses, in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and high coronary risk is a good therapeutic option that can reach benefits on the lipid profile similar to those obtained when these drugs are used in association or separately in higher doses.