Human epicardial adipose tissue: A review

Sacks, Harold S.; Fain, John N.

doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2007.03.019

Cited by 872 publications

(816 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…EAT exists, mainly in the atrioventricular and interventricular groove along the major coronary arteries and branches, to a lesser extent in the atrium, right ventricle and the left ventricular free wall, and shows extension to the apex (Sacks and Fain 2007). The embryological origin of EAT is similar to intra-abdominal visceral adipose tissue (Marchington et al 1989).…”

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confidence: 94%

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness Is Correlated with Ascending Aortic Diameter

Çanğa

Kocaman

Çetin

et al. 2012

Tohoku J. Exp. Med.

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Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), localized beneath the visceral pericardium, is a metabolically active endocrine and paracrine organ with possible interactions within the heart. Recent studies identified possible roles of uric acid (UA)-induced oxidative stress and increased inflammatory status in the pathogenesis of ascending aortic dilatation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether EAT is an independent factor for ascending aortic dilatation. The patients were evaluated by a complete transthoracic echocardiographic examination including measurements of EAT and aortic dimensions. Serum levels of UA and C-reactive protein and EAT thicknesses were compared in 38 patients with dilated ascending aorta (DAA) (the diameter ≥ 37 mm) vs. 107 subjects with normal aortic diameter (AD) of < 37 mm. EAT thickness was significantly higher in DAA group compared to normal AD group (8.3 ± 2.7 vs. 5.4 ± 2.2 mm, p < 0.001) as well as age (53 ± 10 vs. 48 ± 9 years, p = 0.004), the presence of hypertension (54% vs. 30%, p = 0.009) and UA levels (6.0 ± 1.4 vs. 5.2 ± 1.1 mg/dL, p < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between EAT thickness and ascending aortic diameter (r = 0.521, p < 0.001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, EAT thickness (OR: 1.429, p = 0.006), body mass index (OR: 1.169, p = 0.014) and UA levels (OR: 1.727, p = 0.023) were independently correlated to ascending aortic dilatation. We therefore propose that increased EAT thickness is an independent predictor of ascending aortic dilation.

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confidence: 94%

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness Is Correlated with Ascending Aortic Diameter

Çanğa

Kocaman

Çetin

et al. 2012

Tohoku J. Exp. Med.

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“…[1][2][3] Evidence suggests that cardiac adiposity including EF and myocardial (intra-myocellular) lipid deposition could contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. [4][5][6][7] Human epicardial adipose tissue is an active fat depot that secretes proatherogenic, proinflammatory and prothrombotic adipo-cytokines. 8,9 It has been shown that this ectopic fat is associated with the development of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of epicardial fat volume and myocardial triglyceride content in severely obese subjects: relationship to metabolic profile, cardiac function and visceral fat

et al. 2011

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Objective: To assess epicardial fat volume (EFV), myocardial TG content (MTGC) and metabolic profile in severely obese patients, and to determine whether ectopic fat depots are linked to metabolic disorders or myocardial function. Research design and methods: Sixty-three subjects with normal LV function and no coronary artery disease, including 33 lean (BMI: 21.4 ± 2.0 kg m À2 ) and 30 obese (BMI: 41.8 ± 6 kg m À2 ) patients, underwent 3-T cardiovascular MRI, and anthropometric, biological and visceral abdominal fat (VAT) assessments. EFV was measured by short-axis slice imaging and myocardial (intra-myocellular) TG content was measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results: EFV and MTGC were positively correlated (r ¼ 0.52, Po0.0001), and were both strongly correlated with age, BMI, waist circumference and VAT, but not with severity of obesity. EFV and MTGC were significantly higher in obese patients than in lean controls (141±18 versus 79±7 ml, P ¼ 0.0001; 1.0±0.1 versus 0.6±0.1%, P ¼ 0.01, respectively), but some differences were found between the two cardiac depots: EFV was higher in diabetic obese subjects as compared with that in non-diabetic obese subjects (213±34 versus 141±18 ml, P ¼ 0.03), and was correlated with parameters of glucose tolerance (fasting plasma glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR), whereas MTGC was not. EFV and MTGC were both associated with parameters of lipid profile or inflammation (TGs, CRP). Remarkably, this was VAT-dependent, as only VAT remained independently associated with metabolic parameters (Po0.01). Concerning myocardial function, MTGC was the only parameter independently associated with stroke volume (b ¼ À0.38, P ¼ 0.01), suggesting an impact of cardiac steatosis in cardiac function. Conclusions: These data show that VAT dominates the relationship between EFV, MTGC and metabolic measures, and uncover specific partitioning of cardiac ectopic lipid deposition.

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“…Furthermore, several studies have shown that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is not only an anatomic depot of fat, but also may serve as a local source of proinflammatory cytokines related to coronary artery disease (CAD). 2 Although there are several studies reporting an association between EAT and CAD, the evidence concerning the association between EAT and arrhythmia is relatively limited. 3,4…”

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confidence: 99%