Relationship between pseudoexfoliation syndrome and erectile dysfunction: a possible cause of endothelial dysfunction for development of erectile dysfunction

Aging of the skin in pseudoexfoliation syndrome

BACKGROUND

It was reported that pseudoexfoliative material deteriorates iris, brain, heart and lung functions. This material is also found in the skin.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effects of pseudoexfoliation material on the aging of the facial skin.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Forty pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) cases and 40 age- and gender-matched controls were evaluated. Job, cigarette use and the presence of any systemic diseases as well as the duration of sun exposure for all the cases were recorded. All of the cases underwent facial skin examination with Wrinkle Assessment Scale as per Lemperle G et al. and Pinch Test.

RESULTS

Wrinkle Assessment Scale scores of the groups also were compared for all 8 facial locations. There were statistically significant differences found between Wrinkle Assessment Scale scores in PES and Control Group for all 8 locations. Mean Wrinkle Assessment Scale scores of women were 4.12 ± 0.74 in Control Group and 4.75 ± 0.37 in PES group (p = 0.0001). For men, mean Wrinkle Assessment Scale scores were 3.77 ± 0.72 in Control group and 4.54 ± 0.36 in PES group (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

These results implies that there is quicker progression in aging of facial skin in PES than normals.

Hearing Loss in Exfoliation Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine if exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is associated with hearing loss (HL) or vestibular dysfunction.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library through April 1, 2022.

REVIEW METHODS

Two reviewers independently screened abstracts, selected articles for inclusion, and extracted data. Studies included for qualitative analysis conducted audiometric, tympanometric, or vestibular evaluations on all subjects.

RESULTS

Twenty-one publications (1148 patients with XFS and 1212 controls) were included in the systematic review, and 16 publications (968 patients with XFS and 1147 controls) in the meta-analysis. Greater severity of HL was seen for patients with XFS compared to controls across all frequencies (odds ratio [OR] 8.8 [7.3-10.2]). Patients with XFS were more likely to have moderate to profound sensorineural HL (OR 1.8 [1.3-2.5]), and less likely to have none to mild HL (OR 0.34 [0.17-0.67]) or no HL (OR 0.37 [0.28-0.50]). Three studies found patients with XFS had lower tympanometric peaks. Two studies found that abnormal vestibular testing results could be more common for patients with XFS.

CONCLUSIONS

HL is associated with XFS. A sensorineural component to HL is confirmed, and mixed HL is possible. Given the high prevalence and infrequent diagnosis of XFS, the authors hypothesize that the current understandings of presbycusis might be improved by further investigation in XFS. Laryngoscope, 2022.

A Case-Cohort Study of Exfoliation Risk Factors and Literature Review

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the risk factors associated with exfoliation in a case-cohort setting and literature review. This single-center, prospective, case-cohort study was carried out from January 2010 to April 2020 on patients operated for cataract surgery by a single surgeon in Lebanon. Forty-nine consecutive patients with exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and 62 consecutive control patients were identified and further investigated for selected systemic (diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, asthma, or atopy) and ocular variables (baseline vision, severity of nuclear sclerosis, glaucoma, eye rubbing, history of dry eye, or allergic eye disease). The mean baseline Snellen visual acuity was 20/283 in XFS versus 20/145 in control cases (P = 0.012). XFS also demonstrated significantly denser nuclear sclerosis than controls (P = 0.00958). By univariate analysis, allergic conjunctivitis (15 [30.6%] vs. 2 [3.2%]; P < 0.001), dry eye (20 [40.8%] vs. 13 [21.0%]; P = 0.0133), and habitual rubbing of the eyes (33 [67.3%] vs. 19 [30.6%]; P < 0.001) were associated with the presence of XFS. Habitual ocular rubbing was closely associated with allergic conjunctivitis (odds ratio [OR] = 13.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8–58.8; P = 0.032). After multivariable analysis, the following variables showed significant results: glaucoma (OR = 34.5; 95% CI: 4.4–250; P = 0.010), duration of surgery (OR = 5.6; 95% CI 2.43–12.9; P < 0.001), and habitual ocular rubbing (OR = 4.42; 95% CI: 1.97–9.90; P = 0.029). This study shows a novel potential correlation between eye rubbing and XFS in a Lebanese cohort. Chronic eye rubbing induces or may exacerbate preexistent zonular damage in subjects with XFS, hence the need to better manage concurrent ocular surface disorder in these patients.

Can subfoveal choroidal thickness replace subjective tests in patients using tadalafil to treat erectile dysfunction?

We aimed to determine the effect on choroidal thickness of daily 5 mg tadalafil use in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and to evaluate agreement between short form of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF 1-5, 15) scores and choroidal thickness during follow-up. Enhanced depth imaging spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) was used to measure full choroidal thickness in the subfoveal area, choroidal thickness (CT) and small-choroidal-vessel-layer (SCVL) thickness. Thirty of the 45 patients included complete their follow-ups and exhibited medication continuity. Patients were divided into two groups, five (16.7%) with ED at any level at third-month follow-up, and 25 (83.3%) with no ED, and subgroup analysis was then performed. Median changes in SCVL thickness at first- and sixth-month follow-ups were 20.5 µm versus 9.0 μm (p = .001) and 23.5 µm versus 12.5 µm (p = .005) in patients without and with ED respectively. The SCVL thickness increased by 20 μm compared with the baseline level, indicating an improvement in the patient's complaints of erectile dysfunction. The level of increase in SCVL thickness can be a useful and objective guide to clinicians if they cannot be present when the IIEF questionnaire is administered.

Pulmonary functions in pseudoexfoliation syndrome

OBJECTIVES

It is well-known that pseudoexfoliative material deteriorates iris dilatation function. This material was also found in lung tissue. The aim of the study was to evaluate pulmonary function in patients with pseudoexfoliation.

METHODS

This prospective study included 60 pseudoexfoliation syndrome patients without any pulmonary diseases and 52 age- and gender-matched controls without any pulmonary diseases. Patients were asked about their cigarette use and the presence of any systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and asthma. All cases underwent full ophthalmologic and general medical examinations including pulmonary auscultation and pulmonary posterior-anterior X-ray. Pulmonary function tests were used for evaluation of pulmonary function. FVC, FEV₁ , FEV₁ %, FEV₁ /FVC and saturation values were recorded.

RESULTS

Mean age was 67.1 ± 8.8 (44-82) years in the pseudoexfoliation group and 63.8 ± 9.4 (43-82) years in the control group (P > .05). Mean FEV₁ was 1.60 ± 0.62 in the pseudoexfoliation group and 1.84 ± 0.61 in the control group (P = .036). Mean FEV₁ % was 70.65 ± 23.89 in the pseudoexfoliation group and 83.46 ± 17.83 in the control group (P = .002). Mean FEV₁ /FVC ratios were 0.72 ± 0.15 in the pseudoexfoliation group and 0.77 ± 0.11 in the control group (P = .043). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups for FVC, saturation or cigarette use.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that there is decline in some pulmonary functions in pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Corneal Alterations Associated with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Glaucoma: A Literature Review

A systematic literature review was performed evaluating articles examining the effects of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) and glaucoma (PEXG) on the cornea with a focus on the corneal endothelium. We searched for articles relevant to pseudoexfoliation syndrome, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and corneal endothelial cell counts using Pubmed, Google Scholar Database, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases published prior to September of 2016. We then screened the references of these retrieved papers and performed a Web of Science cited reference search. Corneal characteristics analyzed included central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal nerve density, endothelial cell density (ECD), polymegathism, and pleomorphism. These parameters were compared in the following populations: control, PEX, PEXG, and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Over 30 observational studies were reviewed. Most studies showed a statistically significant lower ECD in PEX and PEXG populations compared to controls. Overall, PEX eyes had a non-statistically significant trend of lower ECDs compared to PEXG eyes. No consistent trends were found when analyzing differences in CCT amongst control, PEX and PEXG groups. For the few studies that looked at corneal nerve characteristics, the control groups were found to have statistically significantly greater nerve densities than PEX eyes, which had significantly greater densities than PEXG eyes. ECD and corneal nerve densities may be potential metrics for risk-stratifying patients with PEX and PEXG. Our literature review provided further evidence of the significant negative influence PEX has on the cornea, worsening as patients convert to PEXG.

Major review: Exfoliation syndrome; advances in disease genetics, molecular biology, and epidemiology

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is a common age-related disorder that leads to deposition of extracellular fibrillar material throughout the body. The most recognized disease manifestation is exfoliation glaucoma (XFG), which is a common cause of blindness worldwide. Recent developments in XFS genetics, cell biology and epidemiology have greatly improved our understanding of the etiology of this complex inherited disease. This review summarizes current knowledge of XFS pathogenesis, identifies gaps in knowledge, and discusses areas for future research.

Systemic Associations of Exfoliation Syndrome

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is an age-related disease characterized by the production, deposition, and progressive accumulation of a white, fibrillar, extracellular material in many ocular tissues, most prominent on the anterior lens surface and pupillary border. Its prevalence increases steadily with age in all populations. It is the most common identifiable cause of open-angle glaucoma worldwide and is a potentially reversible or even curable disease. First described in Finland in 1917 by Lindberg, it has long been associated with open-angle glaucoma. However, in recent years, it is being increasingly reported in conjunction with a multiplicity of both ocular and systemic disorders, and the number of these is expected to grow, particularly with investigations based on attempts to associate other diseases with those genes known to be associated with XFS. Despite the focus on XFS as a cause of open-angle glaucoma for nearly a century, in reality it is still only an ocular manifestation of a protean systemic disease. It is a unique disorder with extensive and often serious ocular and systemic manifestations and not, as it has long been termed, a "form" or "type" of glaucoma. This misconception has delayed research into the molecular and cellular processes involved in its development, and the underestimation of its overall importance and its underlying causative mechanisms have largely been long ignored. The purpose of this article is to review the systemic disorders which are becoming increasingly associated with XFS. Reviews of epidemiology, genetics, biomarkers, molecular mechanisms of development, and ocular findings may be found elsewhere.