Reduction in arterial stiffness and vascular age by naltrexone-induced interruption of opiate agonism: a cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To prospectively assess if opiate antagonist treatment or the opiate-free status could reverse opiate-related vasculopathy.

Design

Longitudinal Open Observational, Serial 'N of One', over 6.5 years under various treatment conditions: opiate dependence, naltrexone and opiate-free.

Setting

Primary care, Australia.

Participants

20 opiate-dependent patients (16 males: 16 cases of buprenorphine 4.11±1.17 mg, two of methadone 57.5±12.5 mg and two of heroin 0.75±0.25 g).

Intervention

Studies of central arterial stiffness and vascular reference age (RA) were performed longitudinally by SphygmoCor Pulse Wave Analysis (AtCor, Sydney).

Primary outcomes

Primary outcome was vascular age and arterial stiffness accrual under different treatment conditi

SUBMITTER: Reece AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3612814 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature