title: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome and asymptomatic myocardial dysfunction.
abstract: 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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests the possibility of an association between patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and a discrete asymptomatic myocardial diastolic dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital of Split, Spincićeva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia. lovreb@kbsplit.hr
authors.forename: Lovro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bojić
authors.forename: Ratko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ermacora
authors.forename: Stojan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polić
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ivanisević
authors.forename: Zdravko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mandić
authors.forename: Veljko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rogosić
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lesin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis