It seems like a dream. And for now it is. But perhaps in the future, the possibility of stopping atherosclerosis that leads to the deposition of plaques within the arteries and then, when the plaques rupture, to block the arteries could become a reality. The process that leads to the genesis of a heart attack, when one or more coronary arteries are occluded, or of a stroke if the vessels supply the brain, could be stopped thanks to a therapy that acts as an antioxidant, with specific activity on cholesterol ” bad “or LDL.
To give this hope, we are only at the beginning of the research path, it is a study supported by the British Heart Foundation and coordinated by David Leake of the University of Reading, published in the Journal of American Heart Association. In a nutshell, the “key” point of the action of this cysteamine-based therapy (normally used for the treatment of renal cystinosis, one of the many lysosomal storage diseases that has a genetic basis, and therefore already evaluated in terms of safety in humans) is the lysosome. In practice, it is a sort of “recycling center” of the cell that helps digest and metabolize the cellular waste material.
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Well, the experts from across the Channel have seen that the cisteamina, accumulating right inside the lysosomes, it is able to block the oxidation path of bad cholesterol, thus also reducing the size of the plaques on the artery wall. In particular, examining mice with atherosclerosis, it was found that after treatment a significant decrease (ranging from 32 to 56%) in the size of the plaques on the aortic wall was observed, compared to untreated animals. Furthermore, thanks to the presence of cysteamine, there were other potentially positive effects: firstly the atherosclerotic lesions appeared more stable then a decrease in some parameters of inflammation was observed (a sort of “fuel” for the acceleration of the worsening of injuries and even an increase in smooth muscle cells, with a protective action for the well-being of the vessel.
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Let me be clear: we are only at the beginning of the studies and we must not mount our heads, given that in the past treatments with antioxidants were blocked at the time of experimentation in humans. But it is still worth noting this possible step forward, at least on the basic research front.
Waiting for human studies to confirm this further opportunity to approach atherosclerosis for the future, in any case, we must continue to keep the heart and its health under control, both in primary prevention with good habits and if we already have they were problems. The figures show that in Italy 130,000 people have a heart attack every year and 20% of these patients will have a new heart attack within twelve months. as if that weren’t enough, six out of ten are at risk of an atherothrombotic event. This is why remote controls are essential, also considering the impact of Covid-19 on health services and therefore on the possibility of monitoring heart patients over time.
To give a concrete answer to the health needs of these citizens, the Foundation for your heart of hospital cardiologists Anmco (National Association of Hospital Cardiologists), has created the National Secondary Prevention Campaign “Don’t forget your heart”, a free initiative aimed at patients who have had a myocardial infarction and / or revascularization in the last two years or are about to expire their treatment plan.
Until November 30, 2021, over 110 cardiologists from 30 cardiologies in 27 cities in 12 Italian regions will carry out free cardiological examinations and electrocardiograms to patients who join the Campaign. The Toll-free number 800 05 22 33 of the Foundation for your heart, available to citizens who want to book to carry out their specialist check-up free of charge.
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.