Epicardial fat volume correlates with severity of coronary artery disease in nonobese patients

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that epicardial adipose tissue could locally modulate the coronary artery functions through secretion of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Epicardial fat tissue is further implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) because of its proximity to the adventitia of the major epicardial coronary arteries. We investigated the relationship between epicardial fat volume (EFV) and severity of CAD in nonobese patients using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). METHODS: One hundred and forty nonobese patients (BMI <25 kg/m2) were enrolled. EFV and visceral fat area were measured by MDCT. Patients were classified according to the plaque components (noncalcified, mixed and calcified) and severity of CAD. Inflammatory biomarkers were also measured, and compared with each CT parameter. RESULTS: EFV was significantly correlated with the extent or severity of CAD. Patients with noncalcified or mixed plaque had a greater EFV than those with calcified plaque. Log-transferred high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly correlated with EFV (r = 0.24, P = 0.04). Adiponectin level was significantly inversely correlated with visceral fat area (r = 0.38, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Increased EFV is associated with more severe CAD and noncalcified or mixed coronary plaques in nonobese patients.