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Cardiac steatosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Marit Granér1, Markku O Pentikäinen1, Kristofer Nyman2

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Diabetes and Obesity Research Program, Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Heart (British Cardiac Society)
|April 26, 2014
PubMed

Insights

In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), myocardial fat (triglyceride) content was lower, while epicardial and pericardial fat were higher. This suggests a specific role for fat metabolism in heart failure.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Metabolic Research
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Ectopic fat accumulation, particularly cardiac steatosis, is linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk.
  • Limited data exists on cardiac adiposity in patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the components of cardiac steatosis in non-diabetic DCM patients.
  • To explore the relationship between cardiac fat depots and left ventricular (LV) structure and function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure myocardial and hepatic triglyceride (TG) content.
  • Employed MRI to assess LV function, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal subcutaneous tissue (SAT), and epicardial and pericardial fat.
  • Compared 10 non-diabetic men with DCM against 20 healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • Patients with DCM exhibited significantly lower myocardial TG content compared to controls (0.41% vs. 0.86%).
  • Epicardial (895 mm² vs. 664 mm²) and pericardial fat depots were significantly larger in DCM patients.
  • LV global function index was more severely reduced in DCM patients than LV ejection fraction (EF).

Conclusions:

  • Non-diabetic DCM subjects showed decreased myocardial TG and increased epicardial/pericardial fat.
  • Altered myocardial TG content appears to play a specific role in myocardial energy metabolism within the context of congestive heart failure.
Abstract

Keywords:
CARDIAC FUNCTIONLIPIDS

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