title: Segmental peri-coronary epicardial adipose tissue volume and coronary plaque characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been proposed to modulate underlying coronary plaque features. The study aimed to determine the relation between segmental EAT (sEAT) volume, assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and underlying coronary plaque characteristics, as estimated by multidetector computed tomography (CT) (MDCT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 32 male patients with stable angina pectoris and 11 age-matched healthy controls. For each CAD patient, sEAT volume around 8 coronary segments (3 in left anterior descending artery, 3 in right coronary artery, and 2 in left circumflex artery) was quantified by CMR. By MDCT, plaques in each coronary segment were characterized in terms of plaque volume, type, CT attenuation, and severity of luminal stenosis. Serum levels of adipokines were measured. Total EAT volume was significantly higher in CAD patients than in control group. Serum resistin showed significant correlation with EAT volume (r = 0.69, P < 0.001). Analysis of 256 coronary segments showed larger sEAT volume with increasing luminal stenosis of the corresponding segment (mild: 8.2 cm(3); moderate: 11 cm(3); severe: 11.8 cm(3), P < 0.001). sEAT volume was larger in segments with mixed than those with calcified or non-calcified plaques (12.1 vs. 10.2 vs. 9.5 cm(3), respectively, P = 0.015). sEAT volume was larger in segments with low CT attenuation non-calcified plaques compared with non-calcified plaques with CT attenuation >30 HU (10.5 vs. 8.2 mm(3), P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peri-coronary epicardial adipose tissue volume is significantly associated with the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis and may be a determinant of plaque vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Aswan Heart Centre, Aswan, Egypt Cardiology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Aswan Heart Centre, Aswan, Egypt Cardiology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Said
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hussien
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rizk
authors.affiliation: Chemical Pathology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: ElMogy
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Aswan Heart Centre, Aswan, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donya
authors.affiliation: National Liver Institute, Menofia University, Menofia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houseni
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Department, Aswan Heart Centre, Aswan, Egypt Imperial College, London, UK m.yacoub@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Magdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yacoub
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D060050:Angina, Stable / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
keywords: atherosclerosis; coronary plaque characteristics; epicardial adipose tissue; resistin