title: Epicardial fat volume correlates with severity of coronary artery disease in nonobese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been reported that epicardial adipose tissue could locally modulate the coronary artery functions through secretion of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Epicardial fat tissue is further implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) because of its proximity to the adventitia of the major epicardial coronary arteries. We investigated the relationship between epicardial fat volume (EFV) and severity of CAD in nonobese patients using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty nonobese patients (BMI <25 kg/m2) were enrolled. EFV and visceral fat area were measured by MDCT. Patients were classified according to the plaque components (noncalcified, mixed and calcified) and severity of CAD. Inflammatory biomarkers were also measured, and compared with each CT parameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EFV was significantly correlated with the extent or severity of CAD. Patients with noncalcified or mixed plaque had a greater EFV than those with calcified plaque. Log-transferred high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly correlated with EFV (r = 0.24, P = 0.04). Adiponectin level was significantly inversely correlated with visceral fat area (r = 0.38, P = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased EFV is associated with more severe CAD and noncalcified or mixed coronary plaques in nonobese patients.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya bDepartment of Cardiology, Handa City Hospital, Handa cDepartment of Cardiology, Tsushima City Hospital, Tsushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isobe
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirashiki
authors.forename: Hidehito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Funahashi
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Mutsuharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Toyoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murohara
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators