title: Association between epicardial adipose tissue volume and characteristics of non-calcified plaques assessed by coronary computed tomographic angiography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether high epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume is related to the presence of vulnerable coronary plaque components as assessed by computed tomography (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 357 patients referred for 64-slice CT, and assessed coronary plaque components and EAT volume. Vulnerable coronary plaque components were defined as the presence of non-calcified plaque (NCP), including low-density plaque (LDP: <39 HU) and positive remodeling (PR: remodeling index>1.05). In accordance with a previous report, patients were assigned to two groups: low (<100 ml) or high (≥100 ml) EAT volume.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the low EAT volume group, the high EAT volume group had a higher prevalence of NCP (74% vs. 59%, p=0.003). Additionally, the high EAT volume group had a higher prevalence of LDP with PR than the low EAT volume group (46% vs. 25%, p<0.001). Interestingly, a high EAT volume was an independent predictor of LDP with PR (odds ratio 2.56, 95% confidence interval 1.38-4.85, p=0.003) after adjusting for age, gender, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, body mass index (BMI), abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high EAT volume was associated with the presence of vulnerable plaque components, independent of obesity measurements (BMI and VAT) and CAC scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and Department of Clinical Radiology, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Hideya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kunita
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Utsunomiya
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamazato
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Urabe
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awai
authors.forename: Yasuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kihara
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology