Peri-Coronary Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Coronary Artery Calcification as Markers of Atherosclerotic Burden in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Background: Peri-coronary epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) may play a role in coronary atherosclerosis via localized inflammatory and paracrine mechanisms. This study sought to evaluate the correlation between peri-coronary epicardial adipose tissue, coronary artery calcification, coronary atherosclerotic lesions, and cardiovascular risk factors in post-menopausal women.

Method: This study involved 200 post-menopausal women with suspected coronary artery disease. All participants underwent clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, and multislice computed tomography coronary angiography. The thickness of peri-coronary EAT was assessed surrounding the left main, LAD, LCX, and RCA. Based on MSCT results, patients were put into two groups: a coronary lesion group and a control group.

Result: There were coronary lesions in 140 women. Cases with coronary lesions had CAC scores that were much higher than those of the controls (219.64±345.55 vs. 111.5±301.33; p=0.028). There was a big difference between the patient group and the control group in peri-coronary EAT around LAD, LCX, and RCA. However, there was no big difference in LM EAT. EAT around LAD, LCX, and RCA was strongly linked to significant CAC, dyslipidemia, and a positive family history, but not to age, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

Conclusion: In post-menopausal women, peri-coronary EAT had a positive correlation with CAC and coronary atherosclerotic lesions. It was also linked to certain cardiovascular risk factors, especially dyslipidemia and family history. This suggests that peri-coronary EAT could be a useful imaging marker for the burden of coronary atherosclerosis.