Cardiac Computed Tomography Evaluation of Association of Left Ventricle Disfunction and Epicardial Adipose Tissue Density in Patients with Low to Intermediate Cardiovascular Risk
Marcello Chiocchi,
Armando Ugo Cavallo,
Luca Pugliese,
Matteo Cesareni,
Daniela Pasquali,
Giacomo Accardo,
Vincenzo De Stasio,
Luigi Spiritigliozzi,
Leonardo Benelli,
Francesca D’Errico,
Cecilia Cerimele,
Roberto Floris,
Francesco Garaci,
Carlo Di Donna
Affiliations
Marcello Chiocchi
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Armando Ugo Cavallo
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Luca Pugliese
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Matteo Cesareni
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Daniela Pasquali
Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche Avanzate, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Giacomo Accardo
ASL Salerno Ds 63 Poliambulatorio Costa d’Amalfi, 84013 Salerno, Italy
Vincenzo De Stasio
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Luigi Spiritigliozzi
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Leonardo Benelli
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Francesca D’Errico
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Cecilia Cerimele
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Roberto Floris
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Francesco Garaci
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Carlo Di Donna
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Background and objectives: Epicardial adipose tissue density (EAD) has been associated with coronary arteries calcium score, a higher load of coronary artery disease (CAD) and plaque vulnerability. This effect can be related to endocrine and paracrine effect of molecules produced by epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), that may influence myocardial contractility. Using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCT) the evaluation of EAD is possible in basal scans. The aim of the study is to investigate possible associations between EAD and cardiac function. Material and Methods: 93 consecutive patients undergoing CCT without and with contrast medium for known or suspected coronary CAD were evaluated. EAD was measured on basal scans, at the level of the coronary ostia, the lateral free wall of the left ventricle, at the level of the cardiac apex, and at the origin of the posterior interventricular artery. Cardiac function was evaluated in post-contrast CT scans in order to calculate ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), and stroke volume (SV). Results: A statistically significant positive correlation between EAD and ejection fraction (r = 0.29, p-value p-value Conclusion: EAD could be considered a new risk factor associated with reduced cardiac function. The evaluation of this parameter with cardiac CT in patients with low to intermediate cardiovascular risk is possible.
