Professional paper
Ocular Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Internal Systemic Diseases
Jasenka Brajković
Ivana Kalauz-Surać
Ante Ercegović
Alenka Miletić-Jurić
Nikola Sušić
Željko Burić
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the association between the presence of ocular pseudoexfoliation syndrome and internal systemic diseases, i.e. arterial hypertension, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart arrhythmias, diabetes mellitus, stroke and transient ischemic attacks. This prospective study included 646 patients aged =50 examined at a general ophthalmology clinic in Knin. Ophthalmologic examination included visual acuity testing and refraction, slit lamp examination, fundus examination and applanation tonometry. The diagnosis of pseudoexfoliation syndrome was based on the presence of characteristic whitish, granular deposits on the anterior segment structures of the eye. Data on the presence of internal systemic disease were collected by interview with patients and from internist and neurological medical records. All data collected were statistically analyzed by use of c2-test and ANOVA. In patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, the prevalence of arterial hypertension (p=0.468), ischemic heart disease (p=0.372), cerebrovascular disease (p=0.485), diabetes mellitus (p=0.492) was not statistically significantly higher in comparison with patients without pseudoexfoliation syndrome. However, the prevalence of heart arrhythmia was statistically significantly higher in patients with than in those without pseudoexfoliation syndrome (p=0.001). Based on the results of this and other studies, the question of whether the presence of ocular pseudoexfoliation syndrome could be used as a marker in detecting individuals with heart arrhythmias or internal disease remains open.
Keywords
Ocular Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome; Internal Systemic Diseases
Hrčak ID:
14373
URI
Publication date:
2.4.2007.
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