Publications by authors named "Amalia Despoina Koutsogianni"
Background And Aim: Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity has been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We aimed to investigate the association of ALP with ASCVD in patients with dyslipidemia.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including consecutive adults with dyslipidemia followed-up for ≥3 years (from 1999 to 2022) in the outpatient Lipid Clinic of Ioannina University General Hospital, Greece.
Article Synopsis
- Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and obesity are linked to an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but their combined impact is not well understood.
- The study analyzed adults with heterozygous FH from the HELLAS-FH registry and found that obesity significantly raises the odds of coronary artery disease (CAD), while other complications like stroke or peripheral artery disease were not similarly affected.
- The findings highlight that over half of the adults with HeFH are either overweight or obese, and obesity independently contributes to a higher prevalence of CAD among them.
The past few years have shown an ongoing interest in lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), a lipid molecule that has been proven to have atherogenic, thrombogenic, and inflammatory properties. Several lines of evidence, indeed, have demonstrated an increased risk of cardiovascular disease as well as calcific aortic valve stenosis in patients with elevated Lp(a) levels. Statins, the mainstay of lipid-lowering therapy, slightly increase Lp(a) levels, while most other lipid-modifying agents do not significantly alter Lp(a) concentrations, except for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Statins are associated with new-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D), mainly in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The fatty liver index (FLI) is used as a prognostic score for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is common in patients with MetS. We aimed to investigate the association of FLI with new-onset T2D in patients initiating statin therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most frequent genetic disorder resulting in increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels from childhood, leading to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) if left untreated. FH diagnosis is based on clinical criteria and/or genetic testing and its prevalence is estimated as being up to 1:300,000−400,000 for the homozygous and ~1:200−300 for the heterozygous form. Apart from its late diagnosis, FH is also undertreated, despite the available lipid-lowering therapies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the incidence of statin-related side effects, focusing on liver enzyme increases and muscle symptoms, in a lipid clinic in Greece.
- After following 1,334 patients over a median of 6 years, only 3.1% experienced significant liver enzyme increases and 2.8% reported muscle symptoms, with most still able to tolerate statins.
- Overall, the findings suggest that while side effects do occur, they are relatively rare, and most patients continue with statin therapy successfully.
Over the past few years, there has been an undiminished interest in lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs), mainly carried on this lipoprotein. Elevated Lp(a) has been established as an independent causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease. OxPLs play an important role in atherosclerosis.
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