Relationship of coronary artery disease with pericardial and periaortic adipose tissue and their volume detected by MSCT

Abstract

Introduction: The relationship of pericardial and periaortic adipose tissue with coronary artery disease (CAD) and the significance of this relationship were investigated.

Methods: The present study included 323 subjects, with or without cardiac symptoms, who underwent multislice computed tomography coronary angiography between May 2009 and January 2013. Patients were divided into two groups according to the mean values of pericardial adipose tissue volume (PCFV) and periaortic adipose tissue volume (PAFV). In the grouping based on PCFV, subjects with PCFV<157.7 cm3 comprised Group 1, and those with PCFV≥157.7 cm³ comprised Group 2. According to PAFV values, Group 1 consisted of subjects with PAFV<24.3 cm³, and Group 2 subjects with PAFV≥24.3 cm³. The relationship of CAD with each of PCFV and PAFV was investigated.

Results: Based on PCFV measurements, there were 79 (43.6%) and 113 (79.6%) patients with CAD in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Based on PAFV measurements, Group 1 comprised 90 (48.1%) and Group 2 comprised 102 (75%) CAD patients.

Conclusions: In both groupings, the prevalence of CAD was significantly higher in Group 2 versus Group 1 (p<0.01 for both). There was a significant relationship between CAD and PAFV (p<0.05), but the relation between CAD and PCFV was more significant (p<0.01).