advertisement
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. METHODS: Two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography of transmitral flow was performed on 27 patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, aged 66.9 ± 5.6 years, and 24 healthy volunteers aged 63.9 ± 6.5 years. Left ventricular (LV) systolic contraction and ejection were assessed by LV ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS). LV diastolic filling parameters tested were: early fast diastolic filling (E wave), late diastolic filling (A wave), ratio E/A, velocity time integral E wave (VTIE) and A wave (VTIA), their ratio (VTIE/VTIA), pressure at the end of filling (LVEDP) and a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). RESULTS: Systolic parameters EF and FS, diastolic filling parameters such as A, LVEDP and PCWP were not significantly different between patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and controls (P > 0.05). A significant difference (P < 0.05) was found with regard to the diastolic filling parameters: E (61.6 ± 15.1 vs 83.7 ± 21.4), ratio E/A (0.8 ± 0.1 vs 1.1 ± 0.2), VTIE (8.6 ± 1.8 vs 9.8 ± 1.9), VTIA (10.3 ± 2.4 vs 7.8 ± 1.6) and ratio VTIA/VTIE (1.2 ± 0.2 vs 0.8 ± 0.2). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests the possibility of an association between patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and a discrete asymptomatic myocardial diastolic dysfunction.
Dr. L. Bojic, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital of Split, Spinciceva 1, 21000, Split, Croatia. lovreb@kbsplit.hr.
9.4.4.1 Exfoliation syndrome (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders > 9.4.4 Glaucomas associated with disorders of the lens)