Endotelium in Turner syndrome with capillaroscopy

Simone Cristina Da Silva Coelho,Marília M Guimarães ,T.j Fernandes

doi:10.1590/s1677-54492011000200005

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the endothelium function in patients with Turner syndrome using videocapillaroscopy and to compare the results with healthy control. METHODS: Subjects and controls were studied in a temperature-controlled room, 20 days after no nailfold manipulations. The capillaries were visualized by a microscope connected to a television and a computer. The test of post-occlusive reactive hyperemia was performed using a sphygmomanometer attached to the fourth left finger, 20mmHg above maximum arterial pressure during 1 minute, and the following patterns were studied: area of transverse segment, maximal post-ischemia area and time to reach maximal post-ischemia area. RESULTS: The value of measure of transverse segment projected area , the maximal postischemia area of hand nailfold capillary loops using computerized videophotometry and the time to reach maximal post ischemia area were studied in 40 patients with Turner syndrome and 26 healthy women controls of comparable age (20±7.5 versus 18±8.1 years old; p=0.57). There were differences between transverse segment area (706.8±139.1 versus 548.8±117.2; p=0.001). Maximal post-ischemia area (891.3±226.1 versus 643.5±134.3; p=0.001) and the time to reach it (10.8±4.3 versus 5.5±2.5; p=0.001) were different between patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Changes of capillary response to ischemia could be observed in patients with Turner syndrome using videocapillaroscopy when they were compared to a healthy control group.

Highlights

Turner syndrome (TS) is characterized by total or partial loss of a sex chromosome[1].It occurs in approximately 1/2,500 live births with feminine phenotype[2], which represents more than 1/500,000 women worldwide[2]
Morbidity is clearly increased and these patients demonstrate a greater prevalence of arterial hypertension[4], central obesity, reduction of insulin sensitivity[5], impaired glucose tolerance[6] and diabetes mellitus[7,8]
The diabetes familial history was similar between groups (p=0.45)

Summary

Introduction

Turner syndrome (TS) is characterized by total or partial loss of a sex chromosome[1]. It occurs in approximately 1/2,500 live births with feminine phenotype[2], which represents more than 1/500,000 women worldwide[2]. The two most common features, which affect over 90% of recognized patients, are short stature and premature ovarian failure. Morbidity is clearly increased and these patients demonstrate a greater prevalence of arterial hypertension[4], central obesity, reduction of insulin sensitivity[5], impaired glucose tolerance[6] and diabetes mellitus[7,8]. Cardiovascular complications in Turner syndrome are the most common cause of early mortality, with a life expectancy that may be reduced by more than ten years[9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion