Evaluation of left ventricular functions in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome using tissue Doppler echocardiography and its association with plasma BNP levels

Objective: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) is a systemic disorder that involves various visceral organs. In this observational cross-sectional study we aimed to investigate the left ventricular functions in patients with PES by using tissue Doppler imaging and correlations between B-type natriuretic peptide levels and cardiac functions. Methods: The study enrolled 22 patients with PES (9 male, 41%), aged 57.0±8.8 years, and 23 control subjects (9 male, 39%), aged 52.8±4.9 years. Patients with any cardiovascular disease were excluded. Fasting blood samples were taken and tissue Doppler imaging was performed at the mitral annulus with echocardiographic examination. The independent t and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. Results: The Em velocities at the basal septum and lateral annulus were significantly lower in patients with PES showing decreased diastolic functions (7.6±2.0 versus 9.1±1.6 cm/s, p=0.01 and 9.3±3.5 versus 11.5±3.1 cm/s, p=0.04 respectively). While global left ventricular systolic function assessed by ejection fraction was not significantly different between patients with PES and controls, the septum S-wave velocities of PES patients were lower (7.6±1.3 versus 8.5±1.2 cm/s, p=0.03). Total plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were significantly higher in PES patients (129.04±99.38 pg/mL versus 59.64±53.69 pg/mL; p=0.005) and there was a negative correlation between plasma BNP concentration and mitral annulus average Em velocities (r=-0.554, p=0.009). E/Em ratio was also significantly higher in PES patients (7.85±2.01 versus 6.64±1.48, p=0.03). Conclusion: In this study we showed decreased left ventricular diastolic functions correlated with plasma BNP levels in PES patients. Although further studies needed, evaluation and follow-up of PES patients in terms of left ventricular functions will be useful.