Adipose tissue distribution is associated with cardio-metabolic alterations in adult patients with juvenile-onset dermatomyositis

Abstract

Objectives Primary aims were to compare adipose tissue distribution in adult patients with juvenile-onset dermatomyositis (JDM), with matched controls. Secondary aims were to explore how adipose tissue distribution is associated with cardio-metabolic status (cardiac dysfunction and metabolic syndrome) in patients. Methods Thirty-nine JDM patients (all aged ≥18 y, mean age 31.7 y and 51% female) were examined mean 22.7 y (SD 8.9 y) after disease onset and compared with 39 age/sex-matched controls. In patients, disease activity and lipodystrophy were assessed by validated tools and use of prednisolone noted. In all participants, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and echocardiography were used to measure visceral adipose tissue (VAT)(g) and cardiac function, respectively. Risk factors for metabolic syndrome were measured and associations with adipose tissue distribution explored. For primary and secondary aims respectively, p-values ≤ 0.05 and ≤ 0.01 were considered significant. Results Patients exhibited a 2.4-fold increase in VAT, and reduced HDL-cholesterol values compared with controls (p-values ≤ 0.05). Metabolic syndrome was found in 25.7% of the patients and none of the controls. Cardiac dysfunction (systolic and/or diastolic) was found in 23.7% of patients and 8.1% of controls (p= 0.07). In patients, VAT levels were correlated with age, disease duration and occurrence of metabolic syndrome and cardiac dysfunction. Occurrence of lipodystrophy (p= 0.02) and male sex (p= 0.04) tended to be independently associated with cardiac dysfunction. Conclusion Adults with JDM showed more central adiposity and cardio-metabolic alterations than controls. Further, VAT was found increased with disease duration, which was associated with development of cardio-metabolic syndrome.

Adipokine profile in long-term juvenile dermatomyositis, and associations with adipose tissue distribution and cardiac function: a cross-sectional study

“…Both diastolic and systolic dysfunction (mostly subclinical) have been reported in our JDM cohort of adults and children clinically examined after long-term disease 22 23. Studying the same cohort of patients with JDM and controls, we recently described an altered body composition with increase in body fat percentage and abdominal fat accumulation (this included increased android to gynoid fat mass ratio and visceral adipose tissue (VAT)) with associations with cardiac and metabolic dysfunction 24 25…”

“…The android region of interest (ROI) contained both VAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). The software estimated the quantity of SAT in the android ROI, and the amount of VAT was computed by subtracting SAT from the total android fat in study participants ≥18 years (38 patients and 36 controls) and is presented as total mass (kg) 25…”