title: Is pseudoexfoliation syndrome associated with coronary artery disease?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is recognised by chronic deposition of abnormal pseudoexfoliation material on anterior segment structures of the eye, especially the anterior lens capsule. In recent years, several studies have shown the presence of vascular, cardiac and other organ pseudoexfoliative material in patients with ocular pseudoexfoliation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to determine whether an association exists between ocular pseudoexfoliation and coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysms and peripheric vascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  490 patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) at Kosuyolu Cardiovascula Research and Training Hospital were included in the study. Patients were evaluated for conventional risk factors such as age, sex, family history, hypertension, diabetes, dislipidemia and smoking. Detailed eye examinations including evaluation of lens were done in all patients. The presence of PEX material in the anterior segment was best appreciated by slit lamp after pupillary dilation. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of PEX, and compared for the presence of CAD and other risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CAD was present in 387 patients. 103 patients had normal coronary angiography. 20 (5.2 %) of CAD patients and 4 (3.9%) of normal CAG patients were found to have PEX (p>0.05). There was no significant relationship between CAD and the presence of PEX (p>0.05). When patients were grouped according to the presence of PEX, only age was significantly different between the two groups (r: 0.25, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no significant relationship between the presence of PEX and CAD. Further studies in larger scales with elderly population may be more valuable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kartal Kosuyolu Cardiovascular Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Yunus
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Emiroglu
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Hekim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karapinar
authors.forename: Musa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capkın
authors.forename: Zekeriya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akcakoyun
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kargin
authors.forename: Zeki
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: Göksel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Soe Moe
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aung
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Ali Metin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Cevat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kırma