Aortic elastic properties and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with Adamantiades-Behcet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether Adamantiades-Behcet's disease (ABD) is related to impaired aortic (Ao) elastic properties and left ventricular (LV) function.


BACKGROUND
Adamantiades-Behcet's disease is an inflammatory disorder characterized by vasculitis leading to vascular complications and, rarely, myocarditis.


METHODS
We studied 82 patients with ABD (age: 40 +/- 12 years) and 24 normal control subjects by echocardiography. Abdominal Ao diameter (mm/m(2)) and Ao elastic indexes--namely, Ao strain (%), distensibility (cm(2) x dyn(-1)x 10(-6)), stiffness index, and pressure strain modulus (Ep) (cm(2) x dyn(-1) x 10(-6))--were calculated from the echocardiographically derived thoracic Ao diameters (mm/m(2)), and the measurement of pulse pressure obtained by cuff sphygmomanometry. Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) (ms), deceleration time (DT) (ms), and flow propagation velocity (FPV) (cm/s) were measured by Doppler echocardiography to assess diastolic LV function. The duration of disease and presence of vascular complications were noted.


RESULTS
Patients versus control subjects had increased Ao diameters (p < 0.01), lower mean Ao strain and distensibility (4 vs. 9 and 1.4 vs. 3.4, respectively, p < 0.01), higher mean aortic stiffness index and Ep (15.6 vs. 6 and 1.17 vs. 0.44, respectively, p < 0.01), and impaired IVRT and FPV (p < 0.01). Aortic function indexes were related to the duration of disease (p < 0.01) and increased DT (p < 0.01). Deceleration time >190 ms predicted vascular complications with 80% sensitivity and 71% specificity (odds ratio 6.52 [confidence interval: 2.23 to 19.03]).


CONCLUSIONS
Aortic elastic properties and diastolic LV function are impaired in patients with ABD and are interrelated. The link between diastolic LV dysfunction and vascular complications suggests the presence of a common pathophysiologic pathway and provides a possible marker of risk for vascular disease.
Ikonomidis
Ignatios
I
Department of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Perikleous 19, Nea Chalkidona, Athens 14343, Greece. ignoik@otenet.gr
Lekakis
John
J
Stamatelopoulos
Kimon
K
Markomihelakis
Nikolaos
N
Kaklamanis
Phaedon G
PG
Mavrikakis
Myron
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003971:Diastole; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*