Decreased aortic root elasticity-as a novel systemic manifestation of the pseudoexfoliation syndrome: an observational study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the aortic root function in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEXS).


METHODS
In this case- controlled observational study, aortic root function in 31 PEXS patients (mean age 71 ± 9 years) and 29 controls of similar ages (mean age 69 ± 9 years) were evaluated by M-mode transthoracic echocardiography. Aortic cross-sectional compliance (CSC), Peterson's elastic modulus (index beta), aortic stiffness index (ASI) and aortic root distensibility (ARD) were calculated by M-mode echocardiography to evaluate the aortic root function. The findings of two groups of patients were compared by Mann-Whitney U test.


RESULTS
The CSC and ARD were significantly decreased in patients with PEXS. The CSC was 12.2 ± 6.3 cm²/mmHg in patients with PEXS and 17.5 ± 11.6 cm²/mmHg in the control group (p=0.015). The ARD was 1.56 ± 0.80 cm²/dyne in patients with PEXS and 2.23 ± 1.48 cm²/dyne in the control group (p=0.021). The other two indices of aortic root function were not significantly different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Aortic root function decreases in patients with PEXS. PEXS may be regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Başkent University, Konya-Turkey.
Mete
M
Alpaslan
Aylin
A
Karalezli
Mehmet
M
Borazan
Bengü Ekinci
BE
Köktekir
Ibrahim Haldun
IH
Müderrisoğlu
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004548:Elasticity; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*