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Silent myocardial ischemia in glaucoma and cataract patients

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Abstract

• Background: Glaucoma and cataract are multifactorial diseases. They have been described to be associated with cardiovascular risk factors. • Methods: Twentyfour-hour ECG monitoring was done in 22 normal-tension glaucoma patients, 27 open-angle glaucoma patients, 25 cataract patients, and 20 normal controls. The frequency of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) as well as that of ventricular extrasystoles (VES) was evaluated. • Results: At least one episode of significant asymptomatic ST-T segment depression occurred in 45% of the normal-tension glaucomas, in 25.9% of open-angle glaucomas, in 12% of cataract patients, and in 5% of normal controls. The frequency of VES was not significantly different among the groups. • Conclusions: Glaucoma, especially normal-tension glaucoma, is significantly associated with the occurrence of episodic asymptomatic myocardial ischemias. Cataract patients, however, had only a slightly, statistically not significantly increased frequency of both SMI and VES compared with normals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Eye Clinic, P.O. Box, CH-4012, Basel, Switzerland

    Esther Waldmann, Paul Gasser, Barbara Dubler, Christoph Huber & Josef Flammer

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  1. Esther Waldmann
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  2. Paul Gasser
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  3. Barbara Dubler
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  4. Christoph Huber
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  5. Josef Flammer
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Waldmann, E., Gasser, P., Dubler, B. et al. Silent myocardial ischemia in glaucoma and cataract patients. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 234, 595–598 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00185290

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00185290

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