Effect of ABCA1-R219K Polymorphism in Serum Lipid Parameters in Patients under Statin Therapy Visiting Tertiary Cardiac Center of Nepal.

Introduction ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) encoded by ABCA1 gene is one of the important protein involved in lipid metabolism. The effect of statin therapy on dyslipidemia varies among individuals and it may be due to different genetic polymorphism. The R219K polymorphism of ABCA1 gene is found to have a significant role in the response of statin. Objective This study was designed to evaluate the effect of R219K polymorphism in lipid-lowering action of statin in patients with dyslipidemia. Material and Methods This study was conducted in 88 patients. Blood samples were taken from patients before and at the end of 3 months of statin use and were analyzed for lipid profile. Whole blood was analyzed for R219K Polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results R219K polymorphism was associated with significant percentage reduction of serum triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (TG/HDL) ratio and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (TC/HDL) ratio in atorvastatin users. However, there was no significant association of polymorphism with change in serum TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Among KK genotype individuals, value of TG, VLDL, TG/HDL, and TC/HDL were significantly lower than in RR genotypes. Also, TG/HDL and TC/HDL were significantly lower in RK genotype than in RR. Treatment of dyslipidemia with statin was found to be comparatively better in patients having the genotypes KK and RK. Conclusion Our study demonstrated association of R219K polymorphism with the significant reduction of TG/HDL and TC/HDL and particularly the KK genotype was associated with significant improvement of lipid parameters following atorvastatin treatment.

Prone position and pressure control inverse ratio ventilation in H1N1 patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

AIM: To observe the 28 and 90 days mortality associated with prone position and assist control-pressure control (with inverse ratio) ventilation (ACPC-IRV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who were admitted to our medical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who are positive for H1N1 viral infection with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and requiring invasive mechanical ventilation in prone position were included in our prospective observational study. Six patients who are positive for H1N1 required invasive ventilation in prone position. These patients were planned to ventilate in prone for 16 h and in supine for 8 h daily until P/F ratio >150 with FiO2 of 0.6 or less and positive end-expiratory pressure <10 cm of H2 O. RESULTS: At admission, among these six patients the mean tidal volume generated was about 376.6 ml which was in the range of 6-8 ml/kg predicted body weight. The mean lung injury score was 3.79, mean PaO2 /FiO2 ratio was 52.66 and mean oxygenation index was 29.83. The mean duration of ventilation was 9.4 days (225.6 h). The ICU length of stay was 11.16 days. There was no mortality at 28 and 90 days. CONCLUSION: Early prone combined with ACPC-IRV in H1N1 patients having severe ARDS can be used as a rescue therapy and it should be confirmed by large observational studies.