Artery Research (May 2020)
Role of Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle in Atherosclerosis and in Central Hemodynamics
Abstract
Background: Carotid Arterial Disease (CAD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are atherosclerotic diseases. Adipose tissue (AT) and skeletal muscle (SM) are endocrine organs producing polypeptides with vascular effects. The main objective of this study is to characterize the AT and SM in PAD and CAD. It is also an aim to determine their role in central hemodynamics. Methods: A prospective, observational, case–control study is being conducted. The study group includes patients with PAD/CAD, with and without surgical indication. The control group includes subjects without PAD/CAD, with indication for elective non-vascular surgery, in order to allow access to samples of AT and SM. The quantity, histology and endocrine function of AT and SM are being determined. Results: From December 2018 to August 2019, 47 PAD were studied: 33 with Intermittent Claudication (IC) - (28 male; age: 67.24 ± 9.97 years) and 14 Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) - (seven male; age: 69.21 ± 8.33 years). CLI patients have a lower quantity of SM and higher quantity of visceral and subcutaneous AT, determined on the CT scan, but these differences were not statistically significant. CLI had significant lower SM strength and density [muscle strength right hand: 22.62 ± 8.20 kgf IC vs. 16.38 ± 7.84 kgf CLI, p = 0,02; SM strength left hand: 21.98 ± 8.98 kgf IC vs. 16.37 ± 8.35 kgf CLI, p = 0.04; SM density: 20.44 ± 11.73 Hounsfield Units (HU) IC vs. 9.04 ± 2.47 HU CLI, p = 0.01]. Conclusion: This preliminary data suggests that CLI patients could have a SM dysfunction, inferred from hand grip strength and SM density. These results would be corroborated with the project development. The novelty of this research is the possibility to study the histology features and endocrine markers of AT and SM and to find an association with artery function, arteriosclerosis an atherosclerosis, in human.
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