title: Effect of metabolic syndrome on coronary artery stenosis and plaque characteristics as assessed with 64-detector row cardiac CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and severity of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and plaque characteristics in asymptomatic subjects according to the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome (MS) with multidetector computed tomography (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was approved and the requirement for informed patient consent was waived by the local institutional review board. Degree of coronary artery stenosis, multivessel involvement, and plaque characteristics, as well as coronary artery calcium score (CACS), were assessed with 64-detector row CT in 3000 age- and sex-matched asymptomatic individuals (mean age, 50.2 years ± 8.9 [standard deviation]; age range, 30-79 years). Anthropometric and metabolic profiles were also measured. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables related to coronary atherosclerosis and plaque types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with MS had significant coronary artery stenosis (>50% stenosis), multivessel involvement, more positive remodeling, more atherosclerotic coronary segments, and higher CACS than subjects without MS (P < .01 for all). Mixed and noncalcified plaques were also more prominent in subjects with MS than in those without MS (14.2% ± 4.4 vs 7.6% ± 3.1 and 13.1% ± 4.3 vs 7.3% ± 2.8, respectively; P < .01 for both). After adjustment for confounding factors, MS was strongly associated with significant coronary artery stenosis, multivessel involvement, and mixed plaque.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multidetector CT is useful in the early diagnosis and evaluation of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic patients with MS; however, future prospective studies are needed to address the clinical implications of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumi-dong, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do 463-707, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Yenna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Seon Mee
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyong Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hak Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Sang Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Eun Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003287:Contrast Media; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007479:Iopamidol