Epicardial adipose tissue and coronary artery calcification in diabetic and nondiabetic end-stage renal disease patients.

Background/aims: Atherosclerosis, coronary artery calcification, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and left ventricular hypertrophy are the most commonly encountered risk factors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is the true visceral fat depot of the heart. The relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and EAT was shown in healthy subjects and patients with high risk of CAD. To date, there is not enough data about EAT in diabetic and nondiabetic ESRD patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the EAT and coronary artery calcification score (CACS) in diabetic and nondiabetic ESRD patients and healthy subjects.

Methods: Sixty ESRD patients (17 diabetic, 43 nondiabetic ESRD patients) and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. EAT and CACS were performed by a 64-slice multidetector computed tomography scanner.

Results: There were no differences in age, gender, body mass index, predialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, biochemical parameters including serum low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein between healthy subjects, diabetic, and nondiabetic ESRD patients. Total CACSs and EAT measurements were significantly higher in diabetic ESRD patients when compared with nondiabetic ESRD patients and healthy subjects. There was statistically significant relationship between EAT and CACS in ESRD patients (p < 0.0001, r = 0.48).

Conclusion: In conclusion, we found a significant increase in terms of EAT and CACS in diabetic ESRD patients when compared with nondiabetic ESRD patients and healthy subjects.