Myocardial performance is impaired in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the Tei index, which is an indicator of global myocardial function and an independent predictor of cardiac death, is increased in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).


METHODS
The Tei index was used to evaluate myocardial performance, in addition to conventional echocardiographic evaluation of myocardial structural and functional changes, in patients with BRVO, patients with hypertension and healthy controls.


RESULTS
Out of 36 patients with BRVO (18 female, 18 male; 17 hypertensive, 19 normotensive), 29 patients with hypertension (15 female, 14 male) and 28 healthy controls (15 female, 13 male), there were no significant between-group differences in age and sex. The mitral A wave was higher and mitral E/A ratio, mitral E wave and ejection time were lower, in patients with BRVO than in healthy controls. Mean Tei index was significantly higher in the BRVO group than in patients with hypertension or healthy controls. Compared with healthy controls, the Tei index was significantly higher in hypertensive and normotensive patients with BRVO.


CONCLUSIONS
Myocardial performance is decreased in patients with BRVO, independent of whether or not they have hypertension.
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
Berkant
B
Kaderli
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey ayselkaderli@yahoo.com kaderli@uludag.edu.tr.
Aysel Aydin
AA
Kaderli
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
Sumeyye
S
Gullulu
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
Umit Ubeyt
UU
Inan
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
Tunay
T
Senturk
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
Ali
A
Aydinlar
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
Ahmet Ali
AA
Yucel
Retina Eye Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
Remzi
R
Avci
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003710:Demography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
Branch retinal vein occlusion; Tei index; echocardiography; myocardial performance