title: Endothelial function, intima-media thickness, and ankle-brachial index in patients with cataract and age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between cardiovascular risk factors, including endothelial dysfunction, increased intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries, ankle-brachial index (ABI), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and cataract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients with AMD and cataract, 35 with cataract only, and 49 with AMD were included. Carotid ultrasound, ischemia-induced brachial artery reactivity test, and ABI in conjunction with investigation of conventional cardiovascular risk factors were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased levels (more than 1.23 mg/L) of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and IMT (more than 0.97 mm) increased prevalence odds for AMD and cataract 3.1 and 3.9 times, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated hsCRP or increased IMT of the carotid arteries are associated with comorbid cataract and AMD, whereas there were no reliable differences between groups in respect to endothelial function and ABI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas - Lithuania. r.zaliunas@gmail.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaliuniene
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jasinskas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jurkevicius
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gustiene
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zaliunas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein