Increased Epicardial Fat Volume Quantified by 64-Multidetector Computed Tomography is Associated With Coronary Atherosclerosis and Totally Occlusive Lesions

Epicardial adipose tissue has a paracrine effect, enhancing coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque development. This study evaluated epicardial fat volume (EFV), adipokines, coronary atherosclerosis, and adverse cardiovascular events in a cohort of asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Epicardial fat volume was calculated using data from computed tomography coronary angiograms. Adipokines and inflammatory cytokines were also assayed and correlated with EFV. Epicardial fat volume was also assessed as a predictor of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, number of coronary artery plaques, and significant plaque (>50% luminal stenosis). Data from the EFV analysis were available for 221 (85.7%) participants. Median EFV was 97.4 cm3, mean body mass index was 28.1 kg/m2, and mean duration of T2DM was 13 years. Statistically significant, but weak, correlations were observed between several adipokines, inflammatory cytokines, and EFV. Epicardial fat volume was a significant univariate ( P = .01), but not multivariate, predictor of the number of coronary plaques, but not of CAC score or significant plaque. After a mean follow-up of 22.8 months, 12 adverse cardiovascular events were reported, exclusively in participants with EFV >97.4 cm3. Epicardial fat volume has limited utility as a marker of coronary artery plaque in patients with T2DM and is weakly correlated with adipokine expression.

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An Article Describing the Ethnic Differences in Coronary Plaque and Epicardial Fat Volume Quantified Using Computed Tomography

Heart Lung and Circulation ◽

10.1016/j.hlc.2016.06.064 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. S28-S29

Author(s):

D. Adams ◽

O. Narayan ◽

K. Munnur ◽

J. Cameron ◽

D. Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Ethnic Differences ◽

Coronary Plaque ◽

Epicardial Fat ◽

Epicardial Fat Volume ◽

Fat Volume

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Relationship between epicardial fat volume measured by multi-detector computed tomography and coronary artery disease

Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine ◽

10.1186/s43055-021-00615-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Doaa Ashour Taha ◽

Rasha Ahmed Ali El Shafey ◽

Manal Fathy Hamesa ◽

Khaled Abd El-Wahab Abu-Dewan ◽

Hanan Ahmad Nagy

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Epicardial Fat ◽

Plaque Burden ◽

Atheromatous Plaques ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Epicardial Fat Volume ◽

Artery Disease ◽

Fat Volume

Abstract Background The association between epicardial fat thickness and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been evaluated previously using echocardiography. Recently, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), as a valuable tool in cardiovascular CT imaging, can improve characterization of CAD and give a more accurate volumetric quantitation of EF. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the epicardial fat volume and CAD using multi-detector row CT. Results Out of the studied 120 patients, 22 patients were negative for CAD, while 98 patients had positive CAD. There was significant difference between both groups as regard epicardial fat volume (p < 0.001), and good relation was found between the amount of epicardial fat volume and coronary calcium score, number of affected vessel, plaque burden and degree of stenosis (p = < 0.001). Conclusion EAT volume was larger in the presence of obstructive CAD and atheromatous plaques. These data suggest that EAT is associated with the development of coronary atherosclerosis and potentially the most dangerous types of plaques.

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