Association of pericardial adipose tissue volume with presence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate whether high pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) volume is related to the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Consecutive patients (310 patients) who underwent both dual-source 64-slice CT and percutaneous coronary angiography were recruited into this study. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), blood biochemical variables, coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and Gensini score were measured. Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) volume was determined by dual-source CT. RESULTS: PAT volume was positively correlated with BMI, WC, gender (male), hypertension, diabetes, age, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. PAT volume in CAD patients was significantly higher than that in patients without CAD (238.36 ± 81.21 cm3 vs. 200.13±72.34 cm3). PAT volumes in patients with multi-vessel lesions were significantly higher than those with one-vessel lesions (P < 0.001). A significant correlation between PAT volume and CAC score (r=0.305, P < 0.001) was found. PAT volume was an independent factor affecting Gensini score. CONCLUSION: PAT volume was significantly correlated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and the number of stenotic coronary vessels. Thus, PAT volume may be a reliable marker to evaluate the presence and severity of CAD.