title: Epicardial fat volume is associated with coronary microvascular response in healthy subjects: a pilot study.
abstract: Epicardial fat (EF) is an active ectopic fat depot, which has been associated with coronary atherosclerosis, and which could early influence endothelial function. We thus investigated the relationship between EF and endothelium-dependent vasoreactivity of the coronary microcirculation, in highly selected healthy volunteers. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was determined by measuring coronary sinus flow with velocity-encoded cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3T. We measured MBF at baseline and in response to sympathetic stimulation by cold pressor testing (CPT) in 30 healthy volunteers with normal left ventricular (LV) function (age 22 ± 4 years, BMI = 21.3 ± 2.8 kg/m(2)). EF volume was volumetrically assessed by manual delineation on short-axis views. CPT was applied by immersing one foot in ice water for 4 min. Mean EF volume was 56 ± 26 ml and mean LV mass 100 ± 28 g. CPT significantly increased heart rate (HR) by 32 ± 19%, systolic blood pressure by 14 ± 10%, and rate-pressure product by 45 ± 25%, P < 0.0001. The increase in HR, reflecting sympathetic stimulation, was not influenced by sex, age or EF volume. CPT induced a decrease in coronary vascular resistance (135 ± 72 vs. 100 ± 42 mm Hg.ml(-1).min.g, P = 0.0006), and a significant increase in MBF (0.81 ± 0.37 vs. 1.24 ± 0.56 ml.min(-1).g(-1), P < 0.0001). Interestingly, we found a significant negative correlation between EF volume and ΔMBF (r= - 0.40, P = 0.03), which remained significant after adjusting for ΔHR. ΔMBF was also associated with adiponectin (r = 0.41, P = 0.046), but not with waist circumference, BMI, C-reactive protein, lipid or glycemic parameters. In multivariate analysis, adiponectin and EF volume remained both independently associated with ΔMBF. A high EF amount is associated with a lower coronary microvascular response, suggesting that EF could early influence endothelial function.
authors: Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM), CNRS UMR 6612, Marseille, France. benedicte.gaborit@ap-hm.fr
authors: Bénédicte
authors: B
authors: Gaborit
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Kober
authors: Alexis
authors: A
authors: Jacquier
authors: Pierre Julien
authors: PJ
authors: Moro
authors: Antonin
authors: A
authors: Flavian
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Quilici
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Cuisset
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Simeoni
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Cozzone
authors: Marie-Christine
authors: MC
authors: Alessi
authors: Karine
authors: K
authors: Clément
authors: Monique
authors: M
authors: Bernard
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Dutour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult