OP-018 INCREASED EPICARDIAL FAT THICKNESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW GRADE SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION IN METABOLIC SYNDROME

Abstract

OZET etabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of several cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.[1] Visceral obesity and insulin resistance have been reported to play a key role in the development of MetS. [2] Based on previous reports, we believe that visceral adipose tissue may also be an important risk factor for MetS. Epicardial fat tissue, which is defined as the adipose tissue between the surface of the myocardium and the epicardium, can easily be visualized and measured using standard two-dimensional echocardiography.[3] Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is used a measure of visceral adiposity rather than of general obesity.[4] EFT correlates with MetS, insulin resistance, coronary artery disease (CAD), and subclinical atherosclerosis, and may also serve as a simple tool for the prediction of cardiometabolic risk.[3,5,6] Epicardial fat tissue functions as lipid storage that secretes hormones, inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines, and is hypothesized to play a causative role in the development of MetS.[7] MetS is considered to be a pro-inflammatory condition, and most of the components of MetS, especially visceral obesity, are associated with low-grade systemic inflammation.[2] C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the most important markers of inflammation, and elevated high sensitive CRP (hs-CRP) is known to be associated with cardiovascular risk factors[8,9] and is recognized as a strong predictor of future cardiovascular events.[10] In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between the components of MetS, echocardiographic EFT, and hs-CRP levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS