Publications (71)389.25 Total impact
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Article: Body mass index in a large cohort of patients assigned to age decades between <20 and ≥80 years: relationship with cardiovascular morbidity and medication.
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ABSTRACT: There is an ongoing debate about the relationship between obesity and morbidity in the elderly, the clinical relevance of overweight and obesity in older patients and the need or harms of treatment. The main purpose of our study was to investigate whether a higher BMI is associated with a worse cardiovascular risk in all age groups, especially in the older ones. We performed a retrospective evaluation of clinical data from 3926 patients who visited a medical outdoor center for diagnostic and/or therapeutic interventions in the period from January 1995 to July 2010. Patients were assigned to eight age groups of one decade from <20 years to ≥80 years. The Body Mass Index (BMI) of our patients showed a continuous increase with increasing age with peak values in the age decade 61-70 years (26.29 ±4.42 kg/m2). This was paralleled by an increase in cardiovascular events and need for continuous medication, demonstrating peak values in the age decade 61-70 years (22.3% in the female and 24.7% in the male group). In all age decades up to 80 years the BMI values were higher in patients with events compared to those without it. multivariable linear regression analysis - including confounding variables (blood pressure, fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, physical activity, smoking) - revealed for all age groups a strong positive relation of BMI and a negative relation of fat free mass (FFM) to the probability for a cardiovascular event and need for medication. In all age groups, the percentage of cardiovascular events was directly correlated with the BMI. Having in mind the transition to an aging society, therapeutic and preventive strategies should, therefore, include weight management strategies also for the elderly.The Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging 01/2011; 15(7):536-41. · 2.69 Impact Factor -
Article: Breath acetone—aspects of normal physiology related to age and gender as determined in a PTR-MS study
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ABSTRACT: The present study was performed to determine the variations of breath acetone concentrations with age, gender and body-mass index (BMI). Previous investigations were based on a relatively small cohort of subjects (see Turner et al 2006 Physiol. Meas. 27 321–37). Since exhaled breath analysis is affected by considerable variation, larger studies are needed to get reliable information about the correlation of concentrations of volatiles in breath when compared with age, gender and BMI. Mixed expiratory exhaled breath was sampled using Tedlar bags. The concentrations of a mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of 59, attributed to acetone, were then determined using proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry. Our cohort, consisting of 243 adult volunteers not suffering from diabetes, was divided into two groups: one that fasted overnight prior to sampling (215 volunteers) and the other without a dietary control (28 volunteers). In addition, we considered a group of 44 healthy children (5–11 years old).The fasted subjects' concentrations of acetone ranged from 177 ppb to 2441 ppb, with an overall geometric mean (GM) of 628 ppb; in the group without a dietary control, the subjects' concentrations ranged from 281 ppb to 1246 ppb with an overall GM of 544 ppb. We found no statistically significant shift between the distributions of acetone levels in the breath of males and females in the fasted group (the Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney test yielded p = 0.0923, the medians being 652 ppb and 587 ppb). Similarly, there did not seem to be a difference between the acetone levels of males and females in the group without a dietary control. Aging was associated with a slight increase of acetone in the fasted females; in males the increase was not statistically significant. Compared with the adults (a merged group), our group of children (5–11 years old) showed lower concentrations of acetone (p < 0.001), with a median of 263 ppb. No correlation was found between the acetone levels and BMI in adults. Our results extend those of Turner et al's (2006 Physiol. Meas. 27 321–37), who analyzed the breath of 30 volunteers (without a dietary control) by selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry. They reported a positive correlation with age (but without statistical significance in their cohort, with p = 0.82 for males and p = 0.45 for females), and, unlike us, arrived at a p-value of 0.02 for the separation of males and females with respect to acetone concentrations. Our median acetone concentration for children (5–11 years) coincides with the median acetone concentration of young adults (17–19 years) reported by Spanel et al (2007 J. Breath Res. 1 026001).Journal of Breath Research 05/2009; 3(2):027003. · 2.54 Impact Factor -
Article: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), insulin resistance and lipid profile in antiepileptic drug treatment.
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ABSTRACT: Patients undergoing long-term treatment with valproic acid (VPA) are prone to develop different features of the metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), insulin resistance (IR) and a pro-atherogenic lipid profile in patients undergoing VPA, carbamazepine (CBZ) and lamotrigine (LTG) monotherapy compared to healthy controls. Abdominal ultrasound as well as measurement of serum fasting insulin and glucose, serum lipids and liver function parameters were performed in VPA (n=23), CBZ (n=22) and LTG (n=23) treated non-diabetic and non-obese epileptic patients compared to healthy controls (n=16). Ultrasound measurement demonstrated characteristics of fatty liver disease in 60.9% of VPA, in 22.7% of CBZ, in 8.7% of LTG treated patients and in 12.5% of the healthy controls, with highest level of steatosis seen in VPA treated patients. In addition, patients on VPA monotherapy showed a higher body-mass index (BMI) when compared to LTG treated patients and controls (p<or=0.049). Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gammaGT) were greatest in the CBZ group (p<or=0.043). Interestingly, serum fasting glucose, serum fasting insulin as well as the HOMA-IR did not differ significantly between groups. In conclusion, VPA (and moderately CBZ) therapy is related to increased risk for ultrasonographic signs of fatty liver disease, emphasizing the importance of regular ultrasound measurements as well as monitoring of serum lipids and BMI during enzyme-modulating AED treatment.Epilepsy research 05/2009; 86(1):42-7. · 2.48 Impact Factor -
Article: The impact of risk factors and more stringent diagnostic criteria of gestational diabetes on outcomes in central European women.
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ABSTRACT: In the face of the ongoing discussion on the criteria for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM), we aimed to examine whether the criteria of the Fourth International Workshop Conference of GDM (WC) select women and children at risk better than the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. This was a prospective longitudinal open study in five tertiary care centers in Austria. The impact of risk factors, different thresholds (WC vs. WHO), and numbers of abnormal glucose values (WC) during the 2-h, 75-g oral glucose tolerance test on fetal/neonatal complications and maternal postpartum glucose tolerance was studied in 1466 pregnant women. Women were treated if at least one value according to the WC (GDM-WC1) was met or exceeded. Forty-six percent of all women had GDM-WC1, whereas 29% had GDM-WHO, and 21% of all women had two or three abnormal values according to WC criteria (GDM-WC2). Eighty-five percent of the GDM-WHO were also identified by GDM-WC1. Previous GDM [odds ratio (OR) 2.9], glucosuria (OR 2.4), preconceptual overweight/obesity (OR 2.3), age 30 yr or older (OR 1.9), and large-for-gestational age (LGA) fetus (OR 1.8) were the best independent predictors of the occurrence of GDM. Previous GDM (OR 4.4) and overweight/obesity (OR 4.0) also independently predicted diabetes postpartum. GDM-WC1 had a higher rate of obstetrical complications (LGA neonates, neonatal hypoglycemia, cesarean sections; P < 0.001) and impaired postpartum glucose tolerance (P < 0.0001) than GDM-WHO. These results suggest the use of more stringent WC criteria for the diagnosis of GDM with the initiation of therapy in case of one fasting or stimulated abnormal glucose value because these criteria detected more LGA neonates with hypoglycemia and mothers with impaired postpartum glucose metabolism than the WHO criteria.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 06/2008; 93(5):1689-95. · 6.50 Impact Factor -
Article: Impact of steroid withdrawal on metabolic parameters in a series of 112 enteric/systemic-drained pancreatic transplants.
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ABSTRACT: New immunosuppressive protocols and advanced surgical techniques have brought major improvements in pancreas transplantation outcomes. Steroid withdrawal might have a beneficial long-term effect on metabolic parameters. We retrospectively analyzed 112 enteric-drained pancreas transplants (PTx) performed between March 1997 and October 2001. Prophylactic imunosuppression consisted of ATG induction, tacrolimus, MMF, and steroids. Actuarial patient, pancreas, and kidney graft survivals at 1 year were 96.4%, 86.7%, and 95.3%, respectively. The 5-year pancreatic graft survival was 77%. In addition to four patients who died with functioning grafts, eight grafts were lost due to intraabdominal infection; ten due to rejection; and the remaining three, due to other complications. One-year follow-up was available for 89 patients, Including 22 (25%) withdrawn from steroids. Significantly lower median serum cholesterol values were measured among patients off steroids (158 mg/dL [range 135 to 231 mg/dL] versus 188 mg/dL [range 91 to 278 mg/dl]; P = .005). In contrast, the difference in triglycerides did not reach statistical significance; that is, at last follow-up, at a median of 41.3 months posttransplant, 64 patients (70% of the available study population) were off steroids. Cessation of steroids resulted in significantly lower cholesterol (median 176 mg/dL [range 101 to 229 mg/dL] versus 196 mg/dL [range 107 to 339 mg/dL]; P = .047) and triglyceride values (median 74 mg/dL [range 34 to 299 mg/dL] versus 98 mg/dL [range 47 to 565 mg/dL]; P = .008), but had no impact on rejection rate, serum creatinine and urea, HbA(1c), or fasting blood glucose levels. Steroid withdrawal after pancreatic transplantation can be performed in the majority of cases without risking an immunologic complication, but it seems to be associated also with the benefit of improved lipid metabolism.Transplantation Proceedings 06/2005; 37(4):1821-5. · 1.00 Impact Factor -
Article: A patient with insidious onset of exertional dyspnoea.
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ABSTRACT: The case history is presented of a 42 year old woman with pulmonary artery occlusion due to tuberculous vasculitis that masqueraded as chronic pulmonary artery embolism and led to severe life threatening haemoptysis necessitating emergency pneumonectomy. It is concluded that obliterative tuberculous endarteritis of the pulmonary arteries should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any acquired obstruction of pulmonary arteries.Thorax 06/2005; 60(5):437-8. · 6.84 Impact Factor -
Article: Metabolic risk factors in formerly obese women--effects of a pronounced weight loss by gastric band operation compared with weight loss by diet alone.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to evaluate differences in the metabolic risk profile in formerly obese women, in whom a significant weight loss was obtained by Swedish adjustable gastric band (SAGB) operation or by diet alone. A total of 40 patients (24 after SAGB and 16 after diet) participated in the study. Clinical data, including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, body fat content and blood pressure values, as well as laboratory results [fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, leptin, lipid values and markers of subclinical inflammation] were evaluated before a planned abdominoplastic operation. Patients in the SABG group had lost a significantly greater amount of weight (52.7 +/- 10.0 kg) compared with the diet group (20.0 +/- 11.5 kg; p < 0.001), and the percent excess weight loss was 69.1 +/- 11.4 in the SAGB group and 54.5 +/- 17.7 (p < 0.040) in the diet group. Before the abdominoplastic operation neither the mean BMI nor the percentage of fat mass revealed a significant difference between the groups. Fasting insulin (6.1 +/- 3.0 microU/ml) and the HOMA index (1.4 +/- 0.7) as a measure of insulin resistance were significantly lower in the SAGB than in the diet group (fasting insulin: 8.2 +/- 3.8 microU/ml; p < 0.048; HOMA index: 2.0 +/- 1.0; p < 0.031). Swedish adjustable gastric band patients showed significantly lower plasma leptin levels (9.4 +/- 10.8 ng/ml) than the dietary-treated patients (13.9 +/- 9.6 ng/ml; p < 0.014), while tumour necrosis factor-alpha serum levels were increased in the SAGB group (17.6 +/- 7.3 pg/ml) compared with the diet group (11.9 +/- 0.49 pg/l; p < 0.048). The extensive weight loss in formerly obese women after SAGB operation was paralleled by a favourable metabolic profile indicating a higher degree of insulin sensitivity than in women after a successful, but less pronounced weight loss by diet alone.Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism 05/2005; 7(3):216-22. · 3.38 Impact Factor -
Article: Vascular damage induced by type 2 diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and arteriosclerosis shown in a model of type 2 diabetes in a trans-sectional population study using contrast-enhanced colour Doppler ultrasound for exact assessment of prostatic blood flow. Contrast-enhanced transrectal colour Doppler ultrasound was performed using a microbubble-based ultrasound enhancer SonoVue for evaluating prostate vascularity (transitional zone [TZ] and peripheral zone [PZ]) in diabetic BPH patients, non-diabetic BPH patients and healthy subjects. Computer-assisted quantification of colour pixel intensity (CPI) was used to objectively evaluate the prostate vascularity. Resistive index measurements were obtained in the TZ and the PZ. Findings were compared between these three groups. TZ-CPI was significantly lower in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic BPH men (p=0.001), whereas the CPI of the PZ showed no difference between these two groups (p=0.978). TZ-CPI of patients with diabetic and non-diabetic BPH were significantly lower than in controls (p<0.001), but no difference was found between diabetic and healthy patients in the PZ (p=0.022) and borderline significance was seen when comparing patients of the BPH group with the control patients (p=0.019). Resistive index values of the TZ in diabetic patients showed significantly higher values (p<0.001) than the BPH and control groups. The significantly lower CPI and higher resistive index values of the TZ in diabetic patients compared with patients with non-diabetic BPH and healthy subjects indicate considerable vascular damage in the TZ of these patients. Diabetic vascular damage may cause hypoxia and may contribute to the pathogenesis of BPH.Diabetologia 04/2005; 48(4):784-9. · 6.81 Impact Factor -
Article: The metabolic syndrome as a link between smoking and cardiovascular disease.
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ABSTRACT: Smoking is associated with a significant increase in the cardiovascular risk. The possible relationship of smoking with insulin resistance might further enhance the cardiovascular risk of the patients and is therefore of great clinical interest. We have retrospectively evaluated data of 3804 non-diabetic men attending a medical outdoor clinic. Clinical [body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat, waist-to-hip ratio] and laboratory results were compared between smokers (n = 124) and non-smokers (n = 1915) without cardiovascular disease, as well as between smokers (n = 759) and non-smokers (n = 1006) with cardiovascular disease. Smokers without clinically manifest cardiovascular disease revealed significantly higher fasting glucose (5.8 +/- 0.6 mmol/l) and triglyceride levels (1.8 +/- 0.9 mmol/l) than non-smokers (fasting glucose: 5.1 +/- 0.7 mmol/l, p < 0.010; triglycerides: 1.5 +/- 0.8 mmol/l, p < 0.030). The adverse metabolic profile of smokers was even more pronounced in patients with cardiovascular disease. An age-matched analysis of smokers could demonstrate that cardiovascular patients revealed higher BMI values (27.3 +/- 2.4 kg/m2) and a higher percentage of body fat (25.5 +/- 5.5%) than those without cardiovascular disease (BMI: 25.7 +/- 2.2 kg/m2, p < 0.010; percentage of body fat: 23.0 +/- 5.5%, p < 0.030). In men with and without clinically manifest cardiovascular disease, smoking was associated with a metabolic profile indicating a higher degree of insulin resistance.Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism 03/2004; 6(2):127-32. · 3.38 Impact Factor -
Article: Plasma amine oxidase: a postulated cardiovascular risk factor in nondiabetic obese patients.
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ABSTRACT: Increased activity of semicarbazide-sensitive plasma amine oxidase (SSAO), an enzyme converting various amines, has been implicated in the generation of endothelial damage through formation of cytotoxic reaction products. We investigated if SSAO activity is elevated in morbidly obese patients, which might contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk associated with obesity. SSAO activity was determined in 74 nondiabetic, obese patients (median body mass index [BMI]: 42.9 kg/m(2)) and in 32 healthy, non-obese controls (median BMI: 23.3 kg/m(2)) using a radiometric assay based on the conversion of [(14)C]benzylamine. SSAO and parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism were compared for subgroups of obese patients with normal (n = 49) and impaired (n = 25) glucose tolerance using nonparametric statistical tests. Median SSAO activity was 434 microU/mL in obese patients, which was significantly higher than in healthy, non-obese controls (median SSAO activity: 361 microU/mL). Median SSAO activity in patients with normal and impaired glucose tolerance was 423 and 464 microU/mL, respectively. SSAO activity was not correlated with any other clinical or laboratory parameters characteristic of the metabolic alterations associated with obesity. Elevated SSAO activity is found in nondiabetic, morbidly obese patients and might be an interesting independent risk factor for obesity-related cardiovascular morbidity. Long-term follow-up of SSAO and its possible role in pathogenic events is warranted since intervention with specific SSAO inhibitors is available.Metabolism 07/2003; 52(6):688-92. · 2.66 Impact Factor -
Article: Antibodies to heat-shock protein 65 and neopterin levels in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
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ABSTRACT: Antibodies to heat shock protein (hsp) are strongly associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the non-diabetic population as well as in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In type 1 diabetes increased antibody titers to hsp were found to be a symptom of the autoimmune disease leading to beta-cell damage. We asked whether hsp antibody titers are related to metabolic control and late complications in type 1 diabetic patients. Serum neopterin, also an indicator of chronic inflammation, was also evaluated. The hsp65 antibody titer was determined in 138 patients with type 1 diabetes, 47 women and 91 men, aged 35.5 +/- 12 years with a mean diabetes duration of 16.6 +/- 10.5 years. A history of diabetic late complications and cardiovascular disease was taken. A fundoscopy and a neurological examination were performed, nephropathy was assessed by measurement of the urinary albumin excretion rate. For the measurement of the hsp antibody titer an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied, for neopterin a radio-immuno assay (RIA) was used. The hsp65 antibody titer was found to be positively related to the patients' age (r = 0.237; p < 0.035). Patients with retinopathy revealed significantly higher hsp65 antibody titers (307.2 +/- 38.6) than those without retinopathy (150.0 +/- 18.5;p < 0.003). No correlation was found between hsp antibody titer and metabolic control. Serum neopterin levels revealed a trend towards a positive relationship with diabetes duration (r = 0.205; p < 0.0539) and a significant correlation with serum cholesterol levels (r = 0.436; p < 0.001), but not with HbA1 c values. Our data add further information to the role of inflammatory markers in the development of diabetic microangiopathy.Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes 05/2003; 111(3):127-31. · 1.69 Impact Factor -
Article: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha plasma levels in elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus-observations over 2 years.
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ABSTRACT: The cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is involved in the development of obesity-linked insulin resistance. TNF-alpha plasma levels rise with increasing age and might thus also be related to metabolic control in Type 2 diabetes mellitus. We have studied the relationship of TNF-alpha plasma levels to glycaemic control in elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes over 2 years. Clinical and laboratory data of 53 patients (26 women, 27 men) with Type 2 diabetes (mean age 71.6 +/- 5.6 years) were regularly evaluated over 2 years, and the relationship to anti-diabetic treatment regimens analysed. TNF-alpha plasma level was measured by a solid-phase enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay. TNF-alpha plasma levels increased significantly from 16.2 +/- 9.6 pg/ml at baseline to 28.0 +/- 13.8 pg/ml after 2 years (P = 0.028). HbA1c values also increased from 6.4 +/- 1.2% to 7.7 +/- 1.6% (P = 0.046). Mean body mass index of the patients remained almost constant, while a moderate increase in the percentage of body fat (34.5 +/- 7.0% to 35.3 +/- 6.9%; P= 0.061) and in waist-hip ratio was observed (0.86 +/- 0.04 to 0.88 +/- 0.04; P= 0.052). After adjustment for covariates multivariate analysis demonstrated that TNF-alpha plasma levels are positively related to the HbA1c values of the whole study population at the baseline control and after 2 years. TNF-alpha also revealed a positive correlation to the percentage of body fat. In elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes TNF-alpha plasma levels revealed a continuous increase during an observation period of 2 years. This increase in TNF-alpha plasma levels might add another aspect to the worsening of glycaemic control in the progression of Type 2 diabetes.Diabetic Medicine 12/2002; 19(11):949-53. · 2.90 Impact Factor -
Article: Hyperandrogenism, postprandial hyperinsulinism and the risk of PCOS in a cross sectional study of women with epilepsy treated with valproate.
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ABSTRACT: Among a sample of 43 women with epilepsy treated for at least 2 years with valproate (n=22) or other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (n=21), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was diagnosed in three women, two of them were treated with valproate. Although the rate of PCOS and of menstrual disturbances, weight body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio as well as fasting blood glucose levels, fasting insulin, proinsulin and C-peptide values was similar in this small sample of women treated with valproate and other AEDs, valproate exposure was associated with higher androgen levels, higher postprandial (pp) insulin and proinsulin levels, as well as lower cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The pronounced increase in pp insulin levels during VPA treatment may indicate an effect of the fatty acid derivate VPA on pancreatic islet cells.Epilepsy Research 02/2002; 48(1-2):91-102. · 2.29 Impact Factor -
Article: Fasting glucose concentrations and cardiovascular [correction of cardiovasular] disease; are the new diagnostic criteria not strict enough?
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 01/2002; 54(3):213-4. · 2.75 Impact Factor -
Article: Counseling programs and the outcome of gestational diabetes in Austrian and Mediterranean Turkish women.
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ABSTRACT: An increasing number of patients from different ethnic groups is admitted to European diabetes treatment centers. Counseling programs are of central importance in disease treatment, especially in gestational diabetes where counseling is of influence also on the outcome of pregnancy. We report about the outcome of gestational diabetes in 39 Mediterranean Turkish and 72 Caucasian Austrian women treated at our outpatient clinic. Both groups of patients underwent repeated counseling including information about the cause of gestational diabetes and therapeutic instructions with an emphasis on dietary recommendations adapted to the eating habits. Individually adapted and repeated instructions with the help of trained translators were of great importance for the Turkish women because nearly one third of them turned out to be illiterates. Under comparable treatment modalities, Turkish and Austrian women revealed no differences in metabolic control, the mean birth weight of the children was 3311+/-467 and 3370+/-600g, respectively, and 12.8% of the Turkish and 16.6% of the Austrian children still had a birth weight above 4000g. These results suggest that women with gestational diabetes and different ethnicity reveal a comparable outcome of gestational diabetes when therapeutic instructions are adapted to the social and cultural background as well as to the individual need of the patient.Patient Education and Counseling 01/2002; 45(4):271-4. · 2.31 Impact Factor -
Article: Wolfram syndrome: a clinical and molecular genetic analysis.
Journal of Medical Genetics 12/2001; 38(11):E37. · 6.36 Impact Factor -
Article: A woman with vomiting and depression.
The Lancet 11/2001; 358(9288):1154. · 38.28 Impact Factor -
Article: Association of olanzapine-induced weight gain with an increase in body fat.
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ABSTRACT: The goal of this study was to explore the pathophysiology of weight gain during treatment with olanzapine for schizophrenia. The authors used a prospective, controlled, open study comparing body weight, body mass index, and related biological measures in mentally and physically healthy volunteers and olanzapine-treated patients with schizophrenia. Weight, eating behavior, leptin serum levels, body mass index, and body composition were assessed over an 8-week observation period. A significant increase in body weight, leptin serum levels, and percentage of body fat was seen in patients treated with olanzapine, but the drug-free comparison group did not show any significant changes. The weight gain during antipsychotic treatment with olanzapine was mainly attributable to an increase in body fat; patients' lean body mass did not change. In addition to the original finding that an increase in body fat is mainly responsible for olanzapine-induced weight gain, these findings confirm results obtained in other studies showing increases in body weight and serum leptin levels during treatment with second-generation antipsychotics.American Journal of Psychiatry 11/2001; 158(10):1719-22. · 12.54 Impact Factor -
Article: Flow-mediated, endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is impaired in male body builders taking anabolic-androgenic steroids.
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ABSTRACT: Self-administration of anabolic-androgenic steroids to increase muscular strength and lean body mass has been used widely among athletes. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) determined by ultrasound of the brachial artery is accepted as both an in vivo index of endothelial function and an indicator for future atherosclerosis. FMD was calculated in 20 male non-smoking body builders in different phases of their training cycle and in six male non-smoking control athletes. Ultrasound studies of the brachial artery were performed according to the protocol of Celermajer et al. Of the entire training cycle, work-out phase was training phase without actual intake of anabolic-androgenic steroids over 8 weeks; build-up phase included actual intake of anabolic-androgenic steroids; and competition phase consisted of 8 weeks post intake of anabolic-androgenic steroids. Baseline characteristics did not differ between body builder groups except for a higher weight in competition phase body builders. Hormonal analysis revealed suppressed luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone levels in build-up phase body builders. The lipid profiles showed a marked reduction of HDL-C in build-up phase body builders. FMD was reduced in body builders of all phases when compared to control athletes (work-out phase: 2.5+/-2.7%; build-up phase: 2.1+/-3.0%; competition phase: 0.4+/-2.9% vs. 10.9+/-4.4%, P<0.05 by pairwise comparison using Scheffe's test for work-out phase, build-up phase and competition phase vs. control athletes). The glyceryl trinitrate-induced vasodilatation was diminished, though not statistically significantly, in body builders when compared with control athletes. The differences in FMD persisted after adjustment for vessel size. Our data indicate that intake of anabolic-androgenic steroids is associated with both an atherogenic blood lipid profile and endothelial dysfunction and thus may pose an increased risk of atherosclerosis.Atherosclerosis 10/2001; 158(2):483-90. · 3.79 Impact Factor -
Article: Weight change associated with valproate and lamotrigine monotherapy in patients with epilepsy.
Neurology 09/2001; 57(3):565-6. · 8.31 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
Top Journals
- Wiener klinische Wochenschrift (7)
- Atherosclerosis (4)
- The Lancet (4)
- Metabolism (3)
- Acta Medica Austriaca (3)
Institutions
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1989–2009
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Medizinische Universität Innsbruck
- • Univ.-Klinik für Neurologie
- • Department für Innere Medizin
Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
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2008
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Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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1992–2000
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Universität Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
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