Assessment of aortic stiffness and ventricular diastolic functions in patients with Behçet's disease.
BACKGROUND
Behçet's disease is a systemic vasculitis in which studies have given conflicting results about ventricular diastolic functions. However, tissue Doppler echocardiography has never been used in any of these studies. Aortic stiffness, a cardiovascular risk factor, may also precede ventricular dysfunction.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess aortic stiffness and biventricular diastolic functions in patients with Behçet's disease.


METHODS
A total of 26 patients with Behçet's disease (mean age; 33+/-10 years) and 20 age- and sex-matched controls (mean age; 33+/-7 years) were included. Aortic stiffness was evaluated by aortic strain and distensibility. Ventricular diastolic functions were evaluated with both conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Mitral E and A wave, E/A ratio of E wave, deceleration time, and isovolumic relaxation time were calculated.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in diastolic Doppler parameters between patients and controls. Similarly, there was no significant difference in mitral annular E and A velocities between these two groups. Aortic strain in patients with Behçet's disease was found to be significantly less than in the controls (8.3+/-4.9% and 15.7+/-2.7% respectively, p<0.001). Aortic distensibility was also significantly low in patients with Behçet's disease when compared to controls (0.45+/-0.28 and 0.78+/-0.13 respectively, p<0.001). Beta index values were significantly high in Behçet's patients (7.23+/-5.93 and 2.69+/-0.55 respectively, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
No significant diastolic dysfunction was found in left and right ventricles in patients with Behçet's disease by using both conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. However, an increase in aortic stiffness was found, suggesting an inflammatory involvement of proximal aorta.
Tunc
S Ercan
SE
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Cad. No:33/8, 32200, Isparta, Turkey. ercantunc@hotmail.com
Dogan
Abdullah
A
Gedikli
Omer
O
Arslan
Cagatay
C
Sahin
Mehmet
M
D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016276:Ventricular Function
J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004 Mar 17;43(6):1075-81
15028369
Mediators Inflamm. 2002 Apr;11(2):87-93
12061429
J Rheumatol. 1982 Jul-Aug;9(4):630-3
7131463
Lancet. 1990 May 5;335(8697):1078-80
1970380
Jpn Heart J. 2002 Jul;43(4):389-98
12227714
Ann Med Interne (Paris). 1999 Nov;150(7):542-54
10637670
J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998 Nov;32(5):1397-404
9809954
Circ Res. 2002 Dec 13;91(12):1119-26
12480812
Histopathology. 2000 Apr;36(4):362-71
10759951
Heart. 2004 Jan;90(1):37-43
14676238
Int J Cardiol. 1994 Dec;47(2):145-50
7721482
J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 1997 Apr;10 (3):271-92
9109692
Chest. 2000 Aug;118(2):479-87
10936144
Cardiology. 1993;82(5):309-16
8374928
J Am Coll Cardiol. 1996 Jun;27(7):1753-60
8636565
Circulation. 1978 Dec;58(6):1072-83
709763
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 Oct 25;298(2):251-6
12387824
Kokyu To Junkan. 1991 Sep;39(9):935-8
1749873
Chest. 1984 Oct;86(4):636-8
6478907
Am J Med. 1992 Nov;93(5):505-12
1442852
Int J Cardiol. 2000 Apr 28;73(2):143-8
10817852
Am J Epidemiol. 1994 Oct 15;140(8):669-82
7942769
Int Rev Immunol. 1997;14(1):81-8
9203028
J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 Apr 17;39(8):1275-82
11955844
Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 2003 Feb;96(2):131-4
14626736
J Am Geriatr Soc. 1995 May;43(5):581-2
7730544
Eur Heart J. 1990 Nov;11(11):990-6
2282929
Eur Heart J. 1992 Aug;13(8):1040-5
1505552
Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Feb;50(2):581-8
14872502
Eur Heart J. 1992 May;13(5):638-41
1618206
Yonsei Med J. 1997 Dec;38(6):423-7
9509912
Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2002;17 Suppl 11:13-5
12386250
Medicine (Baltimore). 2003 Jan;82(1):60-76
12544711
J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2003 Aug;16(8):850-7
12878994