Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B/osteoprotegerin (RANKL/RANK/OPG) axis has been hypothesized as a potential mediator of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
Clinical data have indicated that OPG concentrations are associated with hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, vascular calcification, endothelial dysfunction, and severity of liver damage in chronic hepatitis C. Nonetheless, the relationship between circulating OPG and IR as a key feature of MetS as well as between OPG and NAFLD remains uncertain.
The aim of the study was to investigate the role of osteoprotegerin (OPG)/RANK/RANKL variants in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and diastolic dysfunction in thalassemia major patients MATERIALS AND METHOD: One hundred and five beta-thalassemia patients who were older than 10 years of age were enrolled for the study.
This study is the first to report the close association between OPG and LVH development in EH patients and the regulatory effect of OPG on cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts.