title: Increased epicardial fat thickness is associated with low grade systemic inflammation in metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epicardial fat tissue is a type of visceral adipose tissue that functions as a metabolically active endocrine organ. Most components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), especially visceral obesity, are associated with a low-grade systemic inflammatory state. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness (EFT), MetS, the components of MetS, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with MetS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients (25 males, mean age 47.3±6.5 years) with the diagnosis of MetS (according to the Adult Treatment Panel III update criteria) but without clinical coronary artery disease, and 44 age and gender matched healthy volunteers (18 males, mean age 46.0±6.1 years) were included in the study. EFT, which was measured by transthoracic echocardiography, as well as clinical and biochemical parameters were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Waist circumference, total and LDL-cholesterol, fasting glucose, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, hs-CRP, and uric acid levels were significantly higher in patients with MetS. EFT was also significantly increased in patients with MetS (8.7±0.2 mm vs. 4.8±0.1 mm, p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis determined that MetS itself (ß=0.929, p<0.001) and hs-CRP (r=-0.181, p=0.007) are independent predictors of increased EFT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that EFT is higher in patients with MetS, and that MetS and hsCRP are independent predictors of this increased EFT. Increased EFT, which is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in MetS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Yüksek İhtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. deryatok@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tok
authors.forename: Iskender
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kadife
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Turak
authors.forename: Fırat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.forename: Nurcan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Başar
authors.forename: Kumral
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cağlı
authors.forename: Dursun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topaloğlu
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydoğdu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein