The correlation of pericoronary adipose tissue with coronary artery disease and left ventricular function
Deshu You1, Haiyang Yu2, Zhiwei Wang1
1Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China.
Insights
Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) fat attenuation index (FAI) correlates with left ventricular (LV) function but not coronary artery disease severity. This finding suggests PCAT FAI may serve as a biomarker for cardiac dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) surrounds the coronary arteries and its characteristics may reflect cardiovascular health.
- Previous studies suggest a link between PCAT and coronary artery disease (CAD), but its association with left ventricular (LV) function requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) and coronary artery disease (CAD) severity, as well as left ventricular (LV) function.
- To explore the potential of PCAT characteristics, specifically fat attenuation index (FAI), as a biomarker for cardiac health.
Main Methods:
- 159 participants with suspected CAD underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and echocardiography.
- PCAT volume and FAI were analyzed, and correlations with Gensini score (CAD severity) and LV function parameters were assessed using Spearman's and partial correlation analyses.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between PCAT and traditional CAD risk factors or Gensini score.
- However, PCAT FAI demonstrated positive correlations with various LV function parameters, including interventricular septum (IVS), left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW), LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), LV end-systolic diameter (LVESD), LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), LV mass (LVM), and LV mass index (LVMI).
- Total PCAT volume also showed a positive correlation with LV fractional shortening (FS).
Conclusions:
- The fat attenuation index (FAI) of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) is positively correlated with left ventricular (LV) function.
- PCAT FAI is not associated with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).
- PCAT FAI may serve as a non-invasive imaging biomarker for assessing LV function in patients with suspected CAD.
Objective:
We sought to investigate the correlation of pericoronary adipose tissue with coronary artery disease and left ventricular (LV) function.
Methods:
Participants with clinically suspected coronary artery disease were enrolled. All participants underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and echocardiography followed by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) within 6 months. Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) was extracted to analyze the correlation with the Gensini score and LV function parameters, including IVS, LVPW, LVEDD, LVESD, LVEDV, LVESV, FS, LVEF, LVM, and LVMI. The correlation between PCAT and the Gensini score was assessed using Spearman's correlation analysis, and that between the PCAT volume or FAI and LV function parameters was determined using partial correlation analysis.
Results:
One hundred and fifty-nine participants (mean age, 64.55 ± 10.64 years; men, 65.4% [104/159]) were included in the final analysis. Risk factors for coronary artery disease, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and a history of smoking or drinking, had no significant association with PCAT (P > 0.05), and there was also no correlation between PCAT and the Gensini score. However, the LAD-FAI was positively correlated with the IVS (r = 0.203, P = 0.013), LVPW (r = 0.218, P = 0.008), LVEDD (r = 0.317, P < 0.001), LVESD (r = 0.298, P < 0.001), LVEDV (r = 0.317, P < 0.001), LVESV (r = 0.301, P < 0.001), LVM (r = 0.371, P < 0.001), and LVMI (r = 0.304, P < 0.001). Also, the LCX-FAI was positively correlated with the LVEDD (r = 0.199, P = 0.015), LVESD (r = 0.190, P = 0.021), LVEDV (r = 0.203, P = 0.013), LVESV (r = 0.197, P = 0.016), LVM (r = 0.220, P = 0.007), and LVMI (r = 0.172, P = 0.036), and the RCA-FAI was positively correlated with the LVEDD (r = 0.258, P = 0.002), LVESD (r = 0.238, P = 0.004), LVEDV (r = 0.266, P = 0.001), LVESV (r = 0.249, P = 0.002), LVM (r = 0.237, P = 0.004), and LVMI (r = 0.218, P = 0.008), respectively. Finally, the total volume was positively correlated with FS (r = 0.167, P = 0.042).
Conclusion:
The FAI was positively correlated with the LV function but was not associated with the severity of coronary artery disease.
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