Relationship between Pericardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and Early Impairment of Left Ventricular Function, Both Evaluated on Echocardiography.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is metabolically bioactive, and accumulation of this tissue is related to early impairment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function as well as diastolic function. However, pericardial adi- pose tissue (PAT), located outside the EAT, has recently been demonstrated to be more closely associated with metabolic risk factors than EAT. The present study aimed to clarify whether PAT thickness is related to early impairment of LV function in a similar manner to EAT thickness, with both evaluated echocardio- graphically. Subjects were 49 women (mean age, 68ill years) composed of both patients with metabolic diseases and those with other diseases, and ejection fraction (EF) >55%. Systolic function was assessed by measuring EF, systolic mitral annular velocity (S'), and tissue mitral annular displacement percentage (TMAD%). Diastolic function was assessed by measuring early rapid filling wave velocity (E)/late filling wave velocity due to atrial contraction (A) ratio (E/A), peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e'), and E/e' ratio. Correlations between EAT or PAT thickness and LV systolic or diastolic function were assessed. EAT thickness correlated with S' and TMAD%(r=-0.399, p=0.005 and r=-0.570, p<0.001, respective- ly), but not with EF. However, PAT thickness was not correlated with any of these. EAT thickness corre- lated with E/A, e' and E/e'(r=-0.382, p=0.007; r=-0.493, p<0.001; and r=0.331, p=0.020, respective- ly). Again, PAT thickness was not correlated with any of these. PAT thickness appears unrelated to early impairment of LV function.