Epicardial Adipose Tissue Accumulation Is Associated With Renal Dysfunction and Coronary Plaque Morphology on Multidetector Computed Tomography.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is strongly associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), although the underlying pathophysiological mechanism remains unclear. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has recently been recognized as an important source of various pro-inflammatory cytokines causing coronary atherosclerosis. This study investigated the relationship between CKD and EAT volume in association with high-risk plaque.
Methods and Results: The study included 275 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 ml/min/1.73 m(2)who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for the evaluation of CAD. Patients were classified, according to eGFR, into a CKD group (30≤eGFR<60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) or a non-CKD group (eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)). MDCT was used to assess coronary plaque morphology and EAT volume. One hundred and ten patients with CKD were more likely to be older, have higher prevalence of hypertension, lower serum HDL-C, higher serum CRP, and larger EAT volume, than those without CKD (all P<0.01). On multivariate analysis age, hypertension, and EAT volume were significantly associated with eGFR (all P<0.01). EAT volume was associated with the presence of high-risk plaque, independent of traditional CAD risk factors (P=0.003).
Conclusions: Patients with CKD had significantly increased EAT volume, which could be associated with the presence of high-risk plaque.