Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice

Abstract Objective: Patients on hemodialysis (HD) have a high risk for cardiovascular morbidity 
and mortality. Cardiac troponins are biomarkers for diagnosing acute myocardial 
injury or infarction. There is considerable controversy that exists in the frequency and 
significance of cardiac troponins in predicting cardiac injury and ischemia in HD patients.
Methods: In this cross‑sectional study, all HD patients more than 18‑year‑old, who 
were at least 3 months under HD, and had no sign and symptom of active cardiovascular 
disease (CVD), in two HD centers were enrolled. One hundred and one patients fulfilled 
the inclusion criteria. Blood sample for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was drown before 
the initiation of HD session during their routine monthly blood testing from patients’ 
vascular access arterial line. cTnI levels were measured by a high‑sensitivity assay, 
VIDAS troponin I Ultra kit, and correlated with patients’ demographic, clinical, and 
laboratory results.
Findings: The patients’ different demographic and clinical characteristics had no 
statistically significant correlation with troponin levels except for marginal trend for past 
medical history of diabetes and hyperlipidemia with corresponding P values of 0.072 
and 0.055. Twenty‑six patients had cTnI level more than 0.01 µg/L and only two patients 
had cTnI level more than 0.11 µg/L. For laboratory results, only fasting blood sugar 
had statistically significant correlation with patients’ cTnI level(r = 0.357, P = 0.0001).
Conclusion: Frequency of significant elevation of cTnI level in our asymptomatic 
HD patients was very low and if such elevation is found in this population, it may be 
considered as a sign of active CVD.

Abstract Objective: Hypertension and hyperlipidemia are two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease 
in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. This study was designed to investigate 
the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on blood pressure (BP) and serum lipids in CAPD patients.
Methods: This study was a randomized double‑blind clinical trial in which 90 CAPD patients 
were randomly assigned to either the omega‑3 or the placebo group. Patients in omega‑3 
group received 3 g/day omega‑3 for 8 weeks, whereas patients in the control group received 
placebo. At baseline and at the end of 8 weeks, the patients’ BP was controlled, and serum 
biochemistry was measured.
Findings: Mean systolic BP decreased (–22.2 ± 14.2 mmHg) in the omega‑3 group at the end 
of the study while in the placebo group increased (+0.5 ± 30.2 mmHg) (P < 0.0001). Mean 
diastolic BP of the omega‑3 group decreased more (–11.95 ± 11.9 mmHg) comparing with 
the placebo group (–1.1 ± 17.3 mmHg) (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences 
between the two groups in mean changes in serum triglyceride, and total, high‑density 
lipoprotein, and low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that omega‑3 reduced BP significantly but 
had no effect on lipid profile in our CAPD patients.