title: Impaired aortic function in patients with coeliac disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the association between aortic function (aortic stiffness index, aortic strain, and aortic distensibility), which is a predictor of atherosclerosis, and coeliac disease (CD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with CD and 35 control subjects were included in the study. Serological screening was performed to determine the levels of auto-immune markers, including anti-gliadin immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG, and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies. Aortic distensibility, aortic strain, and aortic stiffness index were calculated using echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aortic strain and aortic distensibility were significantly lower in patients with CD than in control subjects (0.07 [0.03-0.14] vs. 0.09 [0.06-0.15], p < 0.001; 0.0036 ± 0.0012 vs. 0.0051 ± 0.0014, p < 0.001, respectively). However, the aortic stiffness index was significantly higher in patients with CD than in controls (1.14 [0.57-2.69] vs. 0.91 [0.59-1.92], p = 0.002). Coeliac disease was the only independent parameter that was correlated with aortic strain, aortic stiffness index, and aortic distensibility (b = -0.427, p < 0.001; b = 0.375, p = 0.003; b = -0.434, p < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we showed deteriorated aortic functions by echocardiography in CD patients, which predicted subclinical atherosclerosis. Because deteriorated aortic functions is a strong predictor of future cardiovascular events, close cooperation with cardiologists and gastroenterologists is needed in the management of CD patients, and increased awareness of ischaemic heart disease risk factors in these patients and healthcare providers is warranted.
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ankara Penal Instution Campus State Hospital. agertem@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmet Göktug
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ertem
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Tolga Han
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Efe
authors.forename: Telat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durmaz
authors.forename: Seyma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ertem
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: aortic function; coeliac disease; echocardiography