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

Doaa Ashour Taha,Manal Fathy Hamesa,Khaled Abd El-Wahab Abu-Dewan,Hanan Ahmad Nagy,Rasha Ahmed Ali El Shafey

doi:10.1186/s43055-021-00615-w

Doaa Ashour Taha, Manal Fathy Hamesa + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s43055-021-00615-w

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Abstract

BackgroundThe 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.ResultsOut 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).ConclusionEAT 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.

Highlights

The association between epicardial fat thickness and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been evalu‐ ated previously using echocardiography
This study was conducted on 120 patients, twenty-two subjects were negative for coronary artery disease, and 98 patients were positive for coronary artery disease
(50%, length = 11 mm), with another small calcified plaque with positive remolding is seen at mid-Left anterior descend‐ ing (LAD) segment without significant stenosis, and a mixed eccentric plaque is seen at D1 ostium exerting severe stenosis (70%, length = 4.5 mm)

Summary

Introduction

The association between epicardial fat thickness and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been evalu‐ ated previously using echocardiography. Epicardial fat (EF) is the adipose tissue surrounding the heart constrained by the visceral pericardium and has the same origin as abdominal visceral fat. It encases coronary arteries without an intervening fascia and has same innervation and blood supply as the coronary arterial wall. This unique anatomic relationship makes the EF being strongly related to the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) [1, 2]. The introduction of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) provides more objective results and a better quantitation of EF compared to the echocardiographic assessment due to its high acquisition speed, improved spatial resolution, intravenously contrast material bolus timing and reduced motion artifacts [5,6,7].

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