Renal artery stenosis and abdominal aorta aneurysm in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome

Purpose To evaluate the renal arteries and abdominal aorta in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX). Design Prospective, case-control study. Methods The study involved 49 patients with PEX and 42 control subjects. Abdominal aorta and renal arteries were examined by Doppler ultrasonography. In both renal arteries (proximal and distal portions) and abdominal aorta, the peak systolic velocity (PSV) was measured. Renal artery stenosis (RAS) was defined as the renal artery PSV >150 cm/s or renal-to-aortic ratio (RAR) >3.0. Patients who had an abdominal aortic diameter >3 cm were recorded. Computed tomographic angiography was performed to confirm these findings in patients with RAS and/or abdominal aorta aneurysm. Results The mean PSV in the proximal renal artery was 88.3 cm/s in PEX group and 79.5 cm/s in control group (P = 0.314); in distal renal artery was 91.7 cm/s in PEX group and 93.0 cm/s in control group (P = 0.794); in abdominal aorta was 76.0 cm/s in PEX group and 65.2 cm/s in control group (P = 0.046). RAS was observed in nine patients with PEX and in only one patient without PEX (P = 0.017). Seven out of 10 patients with RAS (six patients in PEX group; one patient in control group) had hypertension. Abdominal aorta aneurysm was observed in four patients in PEX group but not in control group (P = 0.061). Conclusions Our study has demonstrated that there is a significant association between PEX and RAS. The abdominal aorta aneurysm may be seen in patients with PEX.