Artery Research

Volume 20, Issue C, December 2017, Pages 105 - 106

P182 ARTERIES IN PATIENTS WITH HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE

Authors
Ziva Melik1, Jan Kobal2, Ksenija Cankar1, Janja Pretnar3, Marjan Zaletel3, Lucijan Kobal3, Natasa Teran4
1University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Division of Neurology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
3University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
4University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Available Online 6 December 2017.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2017.10.183How to use a DOI?
Abstract

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder leading to the progressive death of neurons in various brain regions. Although it is a disease of the central nervous system (CNS), mortality surveys indicate that heart disease is one of the mayor causes of death in HD patients. The mechanisms of cardiac pathophysiology of the disease remain unknown. It might be a consequence of altered activity of autonomic nervous system as part of the CNS.

Methods: Our study evaluated global risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), structure and function of precerebral arteries in 41 HD subjects and 41 matched controls. HD subjects were divided into groups by the United Huntington disease rating scale (presymptomatic-PHD, early-EHD, midstage-MHD and late-LHD). CHD risk factors assessment and Doppler examination of precerebral arteries were performed, including measurements of the carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and parameters indicating local carotid artery distensibility (stiffness index β, pulse wave velocity, pressure strain elasticity module and carotid artery compliance).

Results: In the HD and controls we identified a comparable number of non-obstructive plaques (<50% lumen narrowing). No obstructive plaques (>50% lumen narrowing) were found in patients or controls. There was significantly increased IMT in MHD patients. In PHD and EHD the parameters of arterial stiffness were significantly higher and the carotid artery compliance was significantly lower.

Conclusions: Our results reveal functional vascular pathology in PHD, EHD, and MHD. Precerebral arteries dysfunction in HD therefore appears to be mostly functional and in agreement with autonomic nervous system dysfunction in HD.

Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
20 - C
Pages
105 - 106
Publication Date
2017/12/06
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2017.10.183How to use a DOI?
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ziva Melik
AU  - Jan Kobal
AU  - Ksenija Cankar
AU  - Janja Pretnar
AU  - Marjan Zaletel
AU  - Lucijan Kobal
AU  - Natasa Teran
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2017/12/06
TI  - P182 ARTERIES IN PATIENTS WITH HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 105
EP  - 106
VL  - 20
IS  - C
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2017.10.183
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2017.10.183
ID  - Melik2017
ER  -