Relationship between left atrial strain parameters and fibrosis markers in men with epicardial obesity

Aim. To study the relationship between left atrial strain parameters, determined using speckle-tracking echocardiography, and fibrosis markers in patients with epicardial obesity (EO). Material and methods . The study included 101 obese men. The mean age of the patients included in the study was 52,4±8,2 years; the mean body mass index was 32,9±2,84 kg/m 2 . Two groups were identified based on the severity of EO. The EO (+) group had an epicardial adipose tissue thickness of 7 mm or more (n=70), and the EO (–) group had an epicardial adipose tissue thickness <7 mm (n=31). Exclusion criteria included hypertension, diabetes, coronary atherosclerosis, and impaired left ventricular diastolic function as determined by echocardiography. All patients were assessed for serum profibrotic markers (matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), collagen I, collagen III, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor, and procollagen I C-terminal propeptide) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Speckle-tracking echocardiography was used to assess left atrial (LA) strain (determining left atrial reservoir phase (LASr, %), left atrial conduit phase (LAScd, %), and contraction phase (LASct, %). Results . In the EO (+) group, a significant increase in all profibrotic markers were observed. In patients from the EO (+) group, a decrease in LASr (28,97 (20,00; 38,00)), p<0,0001 and LASct (-15,81 (-19,00; -12,00)), p=0,47 was observed compared to the EO (–) group. In patients from the EO (+) group, a positive correlation was observed between LA LASr and the level of MMP-3 (r=0,29; p=0,04) and type 3 collagen (r=0,33; p=0,03) and LAScd with TGF-β (r=0,29; p=0,04). Conclusion . Patients with EO have a decrease in LASr and LAScd parameters. A correlation was determined between the LA LASr and MMP-3 and type 3 collagen levels and the LAScd with TGF-β.