title: Relation of epicardial adipose tissue and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) itself has been accepted as an atherosclerotic risk factor and related to increased cardiovascular disease risk. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of epicardial fat thickness (EFT), a parameter associated with atherosclerosis in recent years, with carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT), another parameter of subclinical atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 57 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 30 age-matched and sex-matched controls. EFT was obtained by transthoracic echocardiography and C-IMT was evaluated by an ultrasonographic measurement using a linear type B-mode probe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EFT and C-IMT were significantly higher in NAFLD patients compared with the controls (EFT: 0.58 ± 0.18 vs. 0.36 ± 0.17 cm, P<0.001 and C-IMT: 0.64 ± 0.1 vs. 0.52 ± 0.1 mm, P<0.001, respectively). We found a statistically significant correlation between EFT and BMI, C-IMT, waist circumference, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis scores in both groups. Stepwise regression analysis showed that C-IMT (β=0.36, t=2.86, P=0.006) and waist circumference (β=0.3, t=2.44, P=0.018), in the order they entered into the model, were independent predictors of EFT in patients with NAFLD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that EFT and C-IMT were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD compared with the controls and waist circumference and C-IMT are independent predictors for EFT in patients with NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Istanbul Goztepe Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. dryasarcolak@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.forename: Can Yucel
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Karabay
authors.forename: Ilyas
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Gonenc
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kocabay
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalayci
authors.forename: Ebubekir
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Senates
authors.forename: Oguzhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Hamdi Levent
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Doganay
authors.forename: Feruze Yilmaz
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Enc
authors.forename: Celal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ulasoglu
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiziltas
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D055105:Waist Circumference