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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Patrick Chinnery, Professor Carel ten Cate
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PURPOSE. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is recognized as the most common cause of isolated blindness in young men. The current study was designed to test whether LHON as a mitochondrial disease is associated with vascular functional alterations characterized by aortic elastic properties during echocardiography. METHODS. A total of 19 patients with typical features of LHON aged 42±13 years (10 males) were included. Their results were compared to 19 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Aortic stiffness index was calculated from the echocardiographically derived aortic diameters and the clinical blood pressure data. RESULTS. In this patient population, the point mutation was present in 3460G>A position in five cases, in 11778G>A position in five cases, and in 14484T>C position in nine patients. Diastolic aortic diameter (26.0±2.5 mm vs 28.4±4.1 mm, p<0.05) and aortic stiffness index (5.1±2.6 vs 12.0±7.9, p<0.05) were significantly increased in LHON patients compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS. Aortic stiffness can be increased in LHON disease, but further studies are warranted to confirm these findings in a larger LHON patient population with a more reliable method focusing on the pathophysiologic background. © Wichtig Editore, 2008.
Author(s): Nemes A, De Coo IFM, Spruijt L, Smeets HJM, Chinnery PF, Soliman OII, Geleijnse ML, Ten Cate FJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: European Journal of Ophthalmology
Year: 2008
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Pages: 309-312
Print publication date: 01/03/2008
ISSN (print): 1120-6721
ISSN (electronic): 1724-6016
Publisher: Wichtig Editore Srl
PubMed id: 18320530
