Vol 75, No 3 (2017)
Original articles
Published online: 2016-12-07

open access

Page views 1041
Article views/downloads 959
Get Citation

Connect on Social Media

Connect on Social Media

The relationship between location-specific epicardial adipose tissue volume and coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden in type 2 diabetic patients

Begum Uygur, Omer Celik, Derya Ozturk, Mehmet Erturk, Hafize Otcu, Fethi Emre Ustabasıoglu, Aydın Yıldırım
Kardiol Pol 2017;75(3):204-212.

Abstract

Background and aim: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically active visceral fat depot that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. Due to its asymmetrical distribution, the relation between location-specific EAT measurements and coronary atherosclerosis remains unclear. Our study investigated the relationship between location-specific EAT volume and coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden that was detected by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in type 2 diabetic patients without coronary artery disease (CAD) history.

Methods: A total of 157 consecutive diabetic patients who had undergone CCTA were included retrospectively. After evaluation of the CCTA images, the study population was divided into two groups according to the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. In both groups, total and left atrioventricular groove EAT volumes were measured.

Results: Total and left atrioventricular groove EAT volumes were significantly associated with coronary atherosclerosis, but only left atrioventricular groove EAT volumes were an independent predictor for CAD. Also, total and left atrioventricular groove EAT volumes were positively correlated with C-reactive protein values (p = 0.0001/p = 0.0001) and the number of coronary atherosclerotic segments (p = 0.0001/p = 0.0001).

Conclusions: Left atrioventricular groove EAT volume is an independent predictor of CAD in type 2 diabetic patients without CAD history. Left atrioventricular groove EAT volume may be used to identify type 2 diabetic patients who may require early CAD intervention because of the potential risk of coronary atherosclerosis.




Polish Heart Journal (Kardiologia Polska)