Epicardial fat tissue thickness is increased in patients with lichen planus and is linked to inflammation and dyslipidemia.
OBJECTIVE
Lichen planus (LP) is a mucocutaneous inflammatory disease. Inflammation plays a major role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) has been shown to produce and secrete various proatherogenic and proinflammatory hormones and cytokines. The aim of this study was to assess EFT in patients with lichen planus.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients with LP and 50 controls were enrolled in the study. LP was diagnosed according to the World Health Organization criteria. EFT was measured on the free wall of the right ventricle in parasternal long-axis view, as previously described and validated.


RESULTS
There were positive correlations between EFT thickness and platelet/lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, duration of LP, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, after adjustments for relevant confounders, LDL cholesterol, hsCRP, platelet/lymphocyte ratio and duration of LP were independent predictors of EFT thickness in patients with LP (β=0.231, p=0.014; β=0.205, p=0.037; β=0.361, p=0.001 and β=0.133, p=0.047, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
EFT is increased in patients with LP compared to control subjects. Duration of LP is correlated with EFT, and duration of LP is also an independent predictor of increased EFT, which is a predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis.
Department of Cardiology, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: agertem@hotmail.com.
Ahmet Goktug
AG
Ertem
Department of Cardiology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
Mehmet
M
Erdogan
Department of Cardiology, Tokat State Hospital, Tokat, Turkey.
Cemal
C
Koseoglu
Department of Dermatology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
Gulsen
G
Akoglu
Department of Cardiology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
Elcin
E
Ozdemir
Department of Dermatology, Tokat State Hospital, Tokat, Turkey.
Gamze
G
Koseoglu
Department of Cardiology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
Serkan
S
Sivri
Department of Cardiology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
Telat
T
Keles
Department of Cardiology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
Tahir
T
Durmaz
Department of Dermatology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
Akın
A
Aktas
Department of Cardiology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
Engin
E
Bozkurt
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000209:etiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium; D010976:Platelet Count
D002097:C-Reactive Protein
Echocardiography; Ecocardiograma; Epicardial fat tissue; Lichen planus; Líquen plano; Tecido adiposo epicárdico