Pericardial fat volume is related to atherosclerotic plaque burden rather than to lesion severity

Abstract

The main finding of the present study was the identification of PFV as more closely related to atherosclerotic plaque burden rather than to lesion severity in patients referred to invasive coronary angiography.

Regional differences of fat depot attenuation using non-contrast, contrast-enhanced, and delayed-enhanced cardiac CT

“…Several investigations have bestowed PAT a major role in the development and progression of coronary atherosclerosis, related to vasocrine and paracrine signaling that leads to the influx of pro-inflammatory adipokines. Furthermore, the local effect of PAT was demonstrated by studies showing an increased risk for atrial fibrillation, and left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction (1,3,5,22–24).…”

Role of Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease: A Matter of Fat?

“…In addition, case-control studies identified pericardial fat volume as a strong predictor of myocardial ischemia (113,305). By contrast, some studies did not find such an association between EAT and the extent of CAD in intermediate to high risk patients, suggesting that the relationship is not constant at more advanced stages (263,306). Interestingly, in the positive studies linking EAT with CAD and developing high risk obstructive plaques, the association was independent of adiposity measures, BMI and the presence of coronary calcifications (128,136).…”

Pericardial fat volume and coronary atherosclerotic markers among body mass index groups

“…Such inconsistent or controversial relationships might be due to lack of dividing the patients according to BMI degree, as the pathophysiological interaction between increased PFV and coronary atherosclerosis burden may be associated with various metabolic and circulatory factors of obesity. 3,7,8 To address the potential confounding effect of BMI grades on the association of PFV with coronary atherosclerosis burden, we aimed to assess the possible relationships of PFV measured by multi-detector CT (MDCT) angiography with coronary atherosclerotic markers (coronary artery calcium score [CAC], plaque, and luminal stenosis) among BMI categories.…”

“…Recently, several clinical studies reported inconsistent results regarding the association of increased pericardial fat deposition with coronary atherosclerotic markers. Such inconsistent or controversial relationships might be due to lack of dividing the patients according to BMI degree, as the pathophysiological interaction between increased PFV and coronary atherosclerosis burden may be associated with various metabolic and circulatory factors of obesity 3,7,8 …”