Key result
Higher periatrial epicardial fat thickness at the esophagus and thoracic aorta was independently associated with a 5.2% increase in peripheral sICAM-1 levels per 1-mm increase in fat thickness.
Observational (n=49)
Single-blind
No
Local periatrial epicardial fat, rather than total adiposity or BMI, is independently associated with biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in patients with atrial fibrillation, suggesting a localized paracrine mechanism.
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Local periatrial fat links to endothelial dysfunction in AF; hypothesis-generating, should not yet change practice.
BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated to atrial fibrillation (AF) burden and outcome after AF ablation. We intended to determine whether global or local EAT is associated with systemic and/or left atrial (LA) inflammation and markers of endothelial dysfunction in AF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Total, atrial, and ventricular EAT volume (EAT total, EAT atrial, EAT ventricular) were measured by multislice cardiac CT in 49 patients with paroxysmal (PAF, n=25) or persistent AF (PeF, n=24). Periatrial epicardial fat thickness at the esophagus (LA-ESO) and thoracic aorta (LA-ThA) were also measured. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and von Willebrand Factor (vWF) levels were measured in peripheral and LA blood samples obtained during catheterization during AF ablation. Patients with PeF had higher EAT atrial (P<0.05) and LA-ESO (P=0.04) than patients with PAF. VEGF, IL-8, and TGF-β1 were not associated with EAT. In contrast, after adjusting for LA volume and body mass index, higher LA-ThA was significantly associated with higher sICAM-1 and vWF levels, both in peripheral blood (P<0.05) and in LA (P<0.05). Similar results were found with LA-ESO. Body mass index, EAT total and EAT ventricular were not associated with sICAM-1 and vWF. CONCLUSIONS: Periatrial epicardial fat showed a significant positive association with increased levels of sICAM-1 and vWF, which are biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction. No such associations were found when considering body mass index or EAT total. These results suggest that local EAT rather than regional or total adiposity may modulate endothelial dysfunction in patients with AF.
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Girerd et al. (2013) conducted an observational in Atrial Fibrillation (n=49). Periatrial epicardial fat thickness (LA-ESO and LA-ThA) vs. Lower periatrial epicardial fat thickness was evaluated on Association between periatrial epicardial fat thickness and peripheral sICAM-1 levels (5.2% increase in sICAM-1 per 1-mm increase in LA-ESO or LA-ThA, p=0.04 and 0.01). Higher periatrial epicardial fat thickness at the esophagus and thoracic aorta was independently associated with a 5.2% increase in peripheral sICAM-1 levels per 1-mm increase in fat thickness.
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