Abstract 11830: Increased Coronary Perivascular Adipose Tissue Volume on Cardiac Computed Tomography in Patients With Vasospastic Angina -Possible Correlation With Adventitial Vasa Vasorum Formation

Abstract

Background: The adventitial components, such as perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and vasa vasorum (VV), play important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. However, the roles of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and VV in the pathogenesis of vasospastic angina (VSA) remain to be examined. In this study, we thus examined whether coronary PVAT volume is increased at the spastic coronary segment, and if so, whether the volume is correlated with the extent of VV formation in VSA patients. Methods and Results: We measured the volume of EAT and coronary PVAT of the left anterior descending coronary arteries (LAD) on cardiac computed tomography (CT) in 48 consecutive patients with documented spasm in LAD and 18 control subjects without the spasm. We further examined the extent of VV formation of LAD in 26 VSA patients by using optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI). Patient characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups in terms of sex, age, body weight, body mass index and cardiovascular risks. Although the EAT volume was comparable between the 2 groups, the PVAT volume of LAD was significantly increased in VSA group as compared with control group (VSA, 29.8±15.2 vs. control, 18.8±9.2 cm3, P<0.01) (Figure). Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the PVAT volume of LAD and the VV area (R=0.43, P<0.05) (Figure). Conclusions: These results indicate that the coronary PVAT volume, but not the EAT volume, is increased at the spastic coronary segments associated with enhanced adventitial VV formation in VSA patients, suggesting the pathophysiological correlation between the 2 changes.