Evaluation of vulnerable coronary plaques and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by 64-detector multislice computed tomography (MSCT).
BACKGROUND
Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) permits direct visualization of not only coronary artery stenosis but also the characteristics of plaques in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Also, because of its potential to be a novel risk factor for cardiovascular disease, interest in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing.


RESULTS
Participants comprised 298 consecutive patients who received MSCT to diagnose CAD. Patients with an alcohol intake exceeding 20 g/day or with a history of known liver disease were excluded from the study. Liver steatosis and 4 coronary artery findings, including remodeling lesions, lipid core plaques, calcified plaques and narrowing of lumen, were assessed. Liver steatosis was evaluated by computed tomography density of the liver and spleen. In the study, NAFLD was defined as having a liver and spleen (L:S) ratio of <1.1. The L:S ratios of patients with remodeling lesions or lipid core plaques were significantly lower than those without. NAFLD was related significantly to those findings, but there was no correlation between calcified plaques, narrowing of lumen and L:S ratios. Adjusted odds ratio of NAFLD for remodeling lesions was 2.41 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24-4.67; p=0.009), and those for lipid core lesions was 2.29 (95% CI, 1.15-4.56; p=0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
NAFLD is a novel risk factor for vulnerable plaques.
Akabame
Satoshi
S
Inflammation and Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. akabame@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Hamaguchi
Masahide
M
Tomiyasu
Ki-Ichiro
K
Tanaka
Muhei
M
Kobayashi-Takenaka
Yoshiko
Y
Nakano
Koji
K
Oda
Yohei
Y
Yoshikawa
Toshikazu
T
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods