title: Epicardial Fat Volume and Aortic Stiffness in Healthy Individuals: A Quantitative Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine epicardial fat volume (EFV) and aortic stiffness (assessed by aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV)) in healthy individuals, and to investigate the relationship of these parameters, and their association with body mass index (BMI) and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  58 subjects (29 men, mean age 44.7 ± 13.9 years[y]) underwent a CMR exam at 1.5 Tesla. A 2 D velocity-encoded CMR scan was acquired to determine PWV. The EFV was measured based on a 3 D-mDixon sequence. Group comparisons were made between younger (age < 45y; n = 30; mean age 33.4 ± 6.6y) and older (> 45y; n = 28; 56.7 ± 8.4y) subjects and between subjects with a BMI < 25 kg/m(2) (n = 28; BMI 21.9 ± 2.5 kg/m(2)) and a BMI > 25 kg/m(2) (n = 30; 28.7 ± 4.0 kg/m(2)). Associations between the determined parameters were assessed by analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean values of PWV and EFV (normalized to body surface area) were 6.9 ± 1.9 m/s and 44.2 ± 25.0 ml/m(2), respectively. The PWV and EFV were significantly higher in the older group (PWV = 7.9 ± 2.0 m/s vs. 6.0 ± 1.2 m/s; EFV = 54.7 ml/m² vs. 34.5 ml/m²; p < 0.01, each), with no significant differences in BMI or sex. In the overweighted group the EFV was significantly higher than in subjects with a BMI < 25 kg/m² (EFV = 56.1 ± 27.1 ml/m(2) vs. 31.5 ± 14.6 ml/m(2); p < 0.01) but without a significant difference in PWV. ANCOVA revealed a significant correlation between EFV and PWV, also after adjustment for age (p = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An association was found between age and EFV as well as PWV. EFV and PWV were related to each other also after adjustment for age. The metabolic and pro-inflammatory activity found with increased epicardial fat volume may promote the development of atherosclerosis and aortic stiffness. CMR may be valuable for future studies investigating the relationship between EFV and PWV in patients with increased cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • EFV and PWV can be assessed in a single CMR exam.• EFV and aortic stiffness are both associated with cardiovascular risk.• EFV correlates with aortic stiffness, possibly due to similar pro-inflammatory mechanisms. Citation Format: • Homsi R, Thomas D, Gieseke J et al. Epicardial Fat Volume and Aortic Stiffness in Healthy Individuals: A Quantitative Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2016; 188: 853 - 858.
authors: Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Homsi
authors: Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Thomas
authors: Philips Healthcare, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Gieseke
authors: Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Meier-Schroers
authors: Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Dabir
authors: Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Kuetting
authors: Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Luetkens
authors: Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Marx
authors: Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors: H H
authors: HH
authors: Schild
authors: Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sprinkart
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*