Aortic stiffness in patients with wilson's disease

Abstract

Aim: Wilson's disease (WD) presents with different phenotypes. Neurologic and liver involvement in WD are well documented. Few reports demonstrated cardiac and vascular involvement. Several studies showed an association between serum copper levels and atherosclerosis. Although WD is the prototype disease of copper metabolism, atherosclerosis has not been studied yet. The aim of this study is to assess aortic stiffness in WD. Materials and Methods: Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index (AIx), central aortic systolic, diastolic, mean, and pulse pressures were measured using SphygmoCor (AtCor Medical) device in 32 patients with WD and 24 healthy controls. Results: Patients with WD and healthy controls were similar in terms of age sex, body mass index (BMI), and liver and kiney functions. However, patients with WD were anemic and thrombocytopenic. Echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular, atrial dimensions, and systolic and diastolic functions were similar between two groups. Patients with WD and healthy controls were compared. Baseline characteristics including age, sex, and BMI did not differ between groups. Central aortic systolic, diastolic, mean, and pulse pressures were similar between the groups. AP, AIx, and PWV did not differ between groups as well. Conclusion: Aortic stiffness in WD was similar in healthy controls.