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Evaluation of function and structure of arterial wall in girls and young women with Turner syndrome

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Abstract

Purpose

Patients with Turner syndrome (TS) are frequently affected by congenital as well as acquired cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the blood pressure, the endothelial function (FMD) and the intima media thickness (IMT) at the level of the common carotid arteries in a group of girls and young women with TS in comparison to healthy controls.

Methods

We evaluated 40 unselected TS patients, with a mean age of 18.6 ± 0.9 years and 103 age matched healthy subjects. Main outcome measures: blood pressure, FMD and IMT.

Results

No differences were found in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between TS patients and controls. FMD was higher in TS than in controls (14.2 ± 1.4 vs 11.4 ± 0.3 %, p = 0.005) whereas IMT was not statistically different in the two study groups (0.54 ± 0.04 vs 0.57 ± 0.01 mm). However, in TS patients an inverse correlation was found between FMD and both age (−0.03 ± 0.01, p = 0.003) and years of estrogen therapy (−0.72 ± 0.31, p < 0.03), whereas a positive correlation was found between IMT and age (R 2 = 0.35, p < 0.0001) and estrogen therapy duration (R 2 = 0.65, p < 0.0001), suggesting a clear tendency toward a premature decrease in FMD and premature increase in IMT compared to controls.

Conclusions

Young TS patients show an arterial wall which is functionally and structurally comparable or betterthan controls. They show, however, a premature derangement of the arterial function and structure, which seems to be partly influenced by age and duration of oestrogen treatment.

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Conflict of interest

I certify that there is no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article for all authors.

Ethical approval

All the research has been performed according to the Ethical Standards involving human participants and /or animals.

Informed consent

An informed consent was obtained from the patients and the protocol approved by the local review board.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Regional Hospital of Bolzano, via L. Boehler 5, 39100, Bolzano, Italy

    G. Radetti & E. Gottardi

  2. Department of Pediatrics, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    L. Mazzanti & F. Tamburrino

  3. Fondazione SDN Napoli, Naples, Italy

    C. Di Somma

  4. Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, “Federico II” University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    A. Colao

  5. Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    M. Salerno & D. Capalbo

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  1. G. Radetti
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  2. L. Mazzanti
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  3. C. Di Somma
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  4. M. Salerno
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Correspondence to G. Radetti.

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Radetti, G., Mazzanti, L., Di Somma, C. et al. Evaluation of function and structure of arterial wall in girls and young women with Turner syndrome. J Endocrinol Invest 38, 963–970 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-015-0268-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-015-0268-9

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