Pseudoexfoliation syndrome: Are the eyes the mirror of the heart?

Abstract

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is a disease characterized by the accumulation of fibrillary material in the extracellular matrix in the eye and many tissues. Myocardial involvement occurs as in other storage diseases. Speckle tracking echocardiography is a quantitative echocardiography modality that enables the detection of subclinical changes that cannot be detected by standard echocardiographic evaluation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate potential subclinical myocardial dysfunction in PEX patients by speckle tracking echocardiography. The study group consisting of 29 cardiac asymptomatic pseudoexfoliation syndromes and 30 healthy volunteers were included in this case-control cross-sectional study. Detailed echocardiographic evaluations and strain analyses of all participants were performed. Concerning standard echocardiographic parameters, there was only a marginally significant difference between the two groups in the e' mean wave, and it was lower in the PEX group than the control group (0.07±0.03, 0.10±0.08, respectively, P=.06). However, in strain echocardiography, the global longitudinal strain (GLS) value was observed to be significantly lower in the PEX group than the control group (-17.02±2.02, -19.29±2.26, respectively P<.001). GLS was observed to be an independent predictor in the multivariable logistic regression model made to determine independent predictors of PEX syndrome (OR=0.59, CI=0.418-0.832, P=.003). Subclinical myocardial involvement in PEX syndrome, in which standard echocardiographic techniques are blinded, can be detected by the strain echocardiography. PEX causes deterioration in the deformation parameters of the left ventricle. Systemic involvement should not be forgotten in patients with PEX and cardiac functions should be monitored.