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Assessment of aortic stiffness and ventricular diastolic functions in patients with Behçet's disease

S Ercan Tunc1, Abdullah Dogan, Omer Gedikli

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Cad. No:33/8, 32200, Isparta, Turkey. ercantunc@hotmail.com

Rheumatology International
|February 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Behçet

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Behçet's disease is a systemic vasculitis with unclear effects on ventricular function.
  • Previous studies on ventricular diastolic function in Behçet's disease have yielded conflicting results.
  • Aortic stiffness, a cardiovascular risk factor, may precede ventricular dysfunction in this condition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate biventricular diastolic functions using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography in Behçet's disease patients.
  • To assess aortic stiffness, measured by aortic strain and distensibility, in individuals with Behçet's disease.

Main Methods:

  • A total of 26 Behçet's disease patients and 20 age/sex-matched controls were studied.
  • Aortic stiffness was assessed via aortic strain and distensibility.
  • Biventricular diastolic functions were evaluated using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography, calculating parameters like E/A ratio and isovolumic relaxation time.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in diastolic Doppler parameters or mitral annular velocities were observed between Behçet's patients and controls.
  • Behçet's disease patients exhibited significantly reduced aortic strain and distensibility compared to controls (p<0.001).
  • Aortic stiffness, indicated by a significantly higher beta index, was evident in Behçet's patients (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography revealed no significant biventricular diastolic dysfunction in Behçet's disease patients.
  • Increased aortic stiffness was detected in Behçet's disease patients, suggesting potential inflammatory involvement of the proximal aorta.
  • These findings highlight aortic stiffness as a potential early indicator of cardiovascular involvement in Behçet's disease.
Abstract

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