Aortic Elastic Properties and Myocardial Performance Index Are Impaired in Patients with Lichen Planus

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the elastic properties of the aorta and the myocardial performance index of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with lichen planus (LP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 54 patients with LP and 50 controls were enrolled in the study. The 2 groups were well-matched regarding age, gender, body mass index, any smoking history, diabetes mellitus and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP). The echocardiographic examination was performed on the study subjects and the controls. Aortic elasticity parameters and the myocardial performance index of the LV were calculated. The Student t test, the χ(2) test and multiple linear regression were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Aortic strain (AS, 4.77 ± 1.81 vs. 8.95 ± 2.22; p < 0.001) and aortic distensibility (AD, 0.25 ± 0.009 vs. 0.42 ± 0.120; p < 0.001) were significantly lower, and aortic stiffness index β (ASIβ, 3.65 ± 1.03 vs. 2.70 ± 0.91; p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the LP group than in the controls. The myocardial performance index (Tei index) was significantly higher in the LP group than in the control group (p = 0.001). The duration of the LP was negatively correlated with AS (r = −0.364, p < 0.001) and AD (r = −0.279, p = 0.006), and positively correlated with the Tei index (r = 0.324, p = 0.001) and ASIβ (r = 0.364, p < 0.001). After adjustment for relevant confounders (age, male gender, smoking, SBP, DBP, diabetes mellitus and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), LP and its duration were still associated with AS, AD and ASIβ. CONCLUSION: In this study, AS and AD were lower and ASIβ and myocardial performance index higher in LP patients than in controls.