Publications by authors named "Ahmad AlSarraf"

Background And Aims: Overweight and obesity are modifiable risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the general population, but their prevalence in individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and whether they confer additional risk of ASCVD independent of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) remains unclear.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 35 540 patients with HeFH across 50 countries, in the EAS FH Studies Collaboration registry. Prevalence of World Health Organization-defined body mass index categories was investigated in adults (n = 29 265) and children/adolescents (n = 6275); and their association with prevalent ASCVD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Critical appraisal is a crucial step in evidence-based practice, enabling researchers to evaluate the credibility and applicability of research findings. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to cultivate critical appraisal skills to assess the trustworthiness and value of available evidence. This process involves scrutinizing key components of a research publication, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the study, and assessing its relevance to a specific context.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), comorbidities assessed by the CLL comorbidity index (CLL-CI) have been associated with outcomes in Western cohorts. We conducted a retrospective analysis of an unselected Middle Eastern cohort of newly diagnosed CLL patients seen at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center (n = 300). Compared to Western studies, these Middle Eastern patients were diagnosed at a younger age (median of 59) and had a higher comorbidity burden (69% non-low risk CLL-CI).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia International Prognostic Index (CLL-IPI) is a powerful prognostic tool validated in multiple Western populations. However, its utility in the young Middle Eastern population is unknown.

Methodology: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 152 unselected patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) diagnosed between 2008 and 2022 at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center, which serves as the sole cancer center in Kuwait.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We sought to assess pre-vaccination and post-vaccination seroprevalences of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Kuwait and to compare antibody levels between vaccine types. In phase 1 (pre-vaccination period, = 19,363), blood samples were collected before the launch of COVID-19 vaccination in Kuwait between 1 September and 31 December 2020. Blood samples for phase 2 (post-vaccination period, = 4973) were collected between 1 September and 30 November 2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), which has been proposed to be driven by an abnormal neuroinflammatory response affecting cognitive function. However, the impact of T2DM on hippocampal function and synaptic integrity during aging has not been investigated. Here, we investigated the effects of aging in T2DM on AD-like pathology using the leptin receptor-deficient db/db mouse model of T2DM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal dominant disorder that can result in premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Limited data are available worldwide about the prevalence and management of FH. Here, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and management of patients with FH in five Arabian Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: To determine the prevalence, genetic characteristics, current management and outcomes of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in the Gulf region.

Methods: Adult (18-70 years) FH patients were recruited from 9 hospitals and centres across 5 Arabian Gulf countries. The study was divided into 4 phases and included patients from 3 different categories.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: Management of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) may vary across different settings due to factors related to population characteristics, practice, resources and/or policies. We conducted a survey among the worldwide network of EAS FHSC Lead Investigators to provide an overview of FH status in different countries.

Methods: Lead Investigators from countries formally involved in the EAS FHSC by mid-May 2018 were invited to provide a brief report on FH status in their countries, including available information, programmes, initiatives, and management.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a well-understood Mendelian disorder that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of mortality in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries.

Objective: Review the reporting status of FH mutations across MENA and propose a systemic and strategic method for building a MENA FH registry.

Methods: Systematic literature search for statistics pertaining to CVD and comparison of number of FH mutations reported in MENA countries and countries with established FH registries.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Diabetes mellitus and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are among several known risk factors for coronary artery disease. Recent research has shown potential mechanistic links between these two diseases.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to characterize, by examining particular coronary artery disease risk factors, patients with extremely high and low levels of HDL-C who were referred to a prevention clinic.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An 11-year-old girl presented with palmar and tuberoeruptive xanthomas, and elevated triglycerides and total cholesterol levels. She had an apolipoprotein E2/E2 genotype. A diagnosis of type III dyslipidaemia was made and the patient started on niacin, fenofibrate and salmon oil.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The authors describe a patient with personal and family history of muscle pains highly suggestive of mitochondrial disease. She presented with familial combined hyperlipidaemia with family history of premature coronary artery disease. After 4-week therapy of 5 mg of rosuvastatin once a week combined with 10 mg of ezetimibe daily, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was markedly decreased from 3.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Until recently, coronary artery disease (CAD) was the leading cause of death in the developed countries. Its remarkable decline can be attributed to our knowledge of the major risk factors identified by several studies resulting in better prevention and treatment. Of the major risk factors, the ratio of apolipoprotein (apo) B/apo A1 followed by smoking, diabetes, and hypertension are the most important.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Severe hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is one cause of acute pancreatitis, yet the level of plasma triglycerides likely to be responsible for inducing pancreatitis has not been clearly defined.

Methods And Results: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients presenting non-acutely to the Healthy Heart Program Lipid Clinic at St. Paul's Hospital with a TG level > 20 mM (1772 mg/dl) between 1986 and 2007.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The authors describe a patient treated with amiodarone presented with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels who did not respond to treatment with a statin. Both amiodarone and amiodarone induced hypothyroidism influence the synthesis of LDL-receptor which may explain the lack of effect of statin. This was confirmed by normalisation of LDL-C upon discontinuation of amiodarone and treatment with thyroxine.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Central pontine myelinolysis is a rare but devastating cause of morbidity and mortality after orthotopic liver transplant. The exact cause of central pontine myelinolysis is uncertain. However, rapid correction of hyponatremia has been described as a major factor.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Complete apo A1 deficiency is a rare genetic disorder that has been associated with premature atherosclerosis. We describe a family of Iraqi Mandaean background with complete apo A1 deficiency caused by a new nonsense mutation in the APOA1 gene. Interestingly, there were marked differences in the clinical presentation of the two homozygotes in this family.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hepatic lipase (HL) deficiency is a rare genetic disorder that has been associated with premature atherosclerosis despite high plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations in the affected individuals. The authors describe the clinical and biochemical features of HL deficiency in a young male of Middle-Eastern-Arabic origin. This is the first report of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) activity and mass in HL deficiency in a patient from this ethnic group.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF