Korean Circ J.  2016 Mar;46(2):239-245. 10.4070/kcj.2016.46.2.239.

Assessment of Aortic Elasticity in Patients with Celiac Disease

• Bayar N
• Çekin AH
• Arslan Å
• Çağırcı G
• Küçükseymen S
• Çay S
• Harmandar
• YeÅŸil B

• KMID: 2344476
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2016.46.2.239

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder induced by dietary gluten intake by individuals who are genetically sensitive. Many studies report an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in such patients. The aim of this study is to assess aortic elasticity properties in patients with CD that may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Eighty-one patients diagnosed with CD by antibody test and biopsy and 63 healthy volunteers were included in this prospective study. Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examinations were performed.
RESULTS
The CD group did not have any differences in the conventional echocardiographic parameters compared to the healthy individuals. However, patients in the CD group had an increased aortic stiffness beta index (4.3±2.3 vs. 3.6±1.6, p=0.010), increased pressure strain elastic modulus (33.6±17.0 kPa vs. 28.5±16.7 kPa, p=0.037), decreased aortic distensibility (7.0±3.0×10(-6) cm2/dyn vs. 8.2±3.6×10(-6) cm2/dyn, p=0.037), and similar aortic strain (17.9±7.7 vs. 16.0±5.5, p=0.070) compared to the control group. Patients with CD were found to have an elevated neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio compared to the control group (2.54±0.63 vs. 2.24±0.63, p=0.012). However, gluten-free diet and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were not found to be associated with aortic elasticity.
CONCLUSION
Patients with CD had increased aortic stiffness and decreased aortic distensibility. Gluten-free diet enabled the patients with CD to have a reduction in the inflammatory parameters whereas the absence of a significant difference in the elastic properties of the aorta may suggest that the risk of cardiovascular disease persists in this patient group despite a gluten-free diet.

Keyword

Celiac disease; Elastic modulus; Aortic stiffness; Inflammation

MeSH Terms

Aorta
Biopsy
Cardiovascular Diseases
Celiac Disease*
Diet, Gluten-Free
Echocardiography
Elastic Modulus
Elasticity*
Electrocardiography
Glutens
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Inflammation
Prospective Studies
Vascular Stiffness
Glutens

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Systolic (s) and diastolic (d) ascending aortic diameters recorded in M-mode approximately 3 cm above the aortic valve from parasternal longaxis views.

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  Fig. 2 Aortic stiffness beta index values in patients with celiac disease and in the control group.

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