The thickness of the epicardial fat is the "visit card" of metabolic syndrome

Aims. On the basis of echocardiography to evaluate the thickness of epicardial fat (TEF) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and to establish a connection with the main indicators of laboratory and instrumental methods of research.

Materials and methods. The study included 76 patients, 43 patients with MS and 33 without MS. The average age of patients in the MS group at the time of inclusion in the study was 62.7±10.3 years in the control group (without MS) – 60±14.7 years. All patients underwent a comprehensive examination that included the collection of complaints, study of history, physical examination, anthropometric measurements, laboratory (including the study of the levels of caspase – 8, leptin in blood plasma enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using kits «Platinum ELISA») and instrumental examination (echocardiography, ultrasound examination of organs of small pelvis). TEF was determined using transthoracic echocardiography on the machine Acuson Sequoia 512.

Results. According transthoracic echocardiography was significantly higher in the group of patients with MS and was 4.67±1.7 mm, as compared to 2.66±1.15 mm in the control group (p<0.001). Identified moderate and strong correlation between TEF and weight of the patients, waist circumference, ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference, body mass index, glucose levels in the blood plasma, the presence of diabetes mellitus type 2, ultrasonic signs of steatosis of the liver and pancreas, increased aminotransferases, the level of caspase-8 concentration in plasma leptin. Patients the MS group with increased TEF increases the risk of developing hypertension, ischemic heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle type 2, level of caspase-8 and concentration in plasma leptin.

Conclusion. Based on the obtained data, the measurement of TEF is justified in patients with MS in everyday clinical practice. The correlations between the TEF and the clinical and metabolic parameters of the CVD and MS make it possible to consider the TEF as a new marker of the risk of developing MS and cardiovascular diseases.

epicardial fat, metabolic syndrome, obesity, caspase-8, leptin, cardiovascular risk

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