摘要:
Disclosed is a new combination therapy to treat sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia and their vascular acute and chronic complications by a therapy involving the combined administration of a compound improving HDL particle function and activity (i.e. increasing HDL/ ApoA1 levels), and liposoluble antioxidants xanthophylls (such as lutein, zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, astaxanthin). This method simultaneously and synergistically restores red blood cell function, normalizes red blood cell membrane cholesterol concentration and decreases oxidative stress both parameters being pathologically affected in SCD, thalassemia and diabetes secondary to low levels of plasma HDL and decreased absorption of dietary lipophilic antioxidant. Although it is known that HDL is involved in the selective and active intestinal uptake of liposoluble vitamins and antioxidants and that HDL uniquely removes excess membrane cholesterol from red blood cells, we discovered that the combination of an HDL therapeutic intervention together with a dietary supplement (as a free or fixed combination) of liposoluble antioxidants act synergistically for treating the rheological complications of sickle cell disease as well as thalassemia and subsequently will contribute to treating and preventing microvascular damages and associated pathologies (retinopathies, kidney failure, leg ulcer, priapism, acute chest syndrome, stroke etc.). Similarly Diabetes, which includes hemorheological abnormalities associated with high red blood cell membrane cholesterol and low plasma HDL antioxidant level will benefit from such combinations. Additional compounds affecting HDL are ApoA1 inducers, HDL and ApoA1 mimetics or (mimicking compounds) ApoA1 and ApoE analogues, Lecithin Cholesterol Acyl Transferase (LCAT) activators, CETP inhibitors and modulators, Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor (PPAR) agonists, ATP Binding Cassette A1 (ABCA1) inducers, Niacin and analogues, Niacin Receptor agonists. Additional lipophilic antioxidants are tocopherols and tocotrienols.