Heart Disease

Erythropoietin therapy for cardiomyopathy – pro

Raising Hemoglobin levels is not always an unmitigated belssing. Studies in dialysis patients showed an increased risk of complications when Hb is raised above HB of 10-22.  Meta-analysis of reported randomized clincal trials(RCT)s conclude that normalization of hemoglobin with erythropoietin is harmful. The connection between heart failure(HF) and Hb levels appears to exist but it is not certain that low Hb worsens heart failure. Three studies

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Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 – pro

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an enzyme that is produced by inflammatory cells, co-travels with circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and hydrolyzes oxidized phospholipids in LDL. Its biological role has been controversial with initial reports purporting atheroprotective effects of Lp-PLA2 thought to be a consequence of degrading platelet-activating factor and removing polar phospholipids in modified LDL. Recent studies,

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