Relation of epicardial adipose tissue and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Currently, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) itself has been accepted as an atherosclerotic risk factor and related to increased cardiovascular disease risk. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of epicardial fat thickness (EFT), a parameter associated with atherosclerosis in recent years, with carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT), another parameter of subclinical atherosclerosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated 57 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 30 age-matched and sex-matched controls. EFT was obtained by transthoracic echocardiography and C-IMT was evaluated by an ultrasonographic measurement using a linear type B-mode probe. RESULTS: EFT and C-IMT were significantly higher in NAFLD patients compared with the controls (EFT: 0.58 ± 0.18 vs. 0.36 ± 0.17 cm, P<0.001 and C-IMT: 0.64 ± 0.1 vs. 0.52 ± 0.1 mm, P<0.001, respectively). We found a statistically significant correlation between EFT and BMI, C-IMT, waist circumference, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis scores in both groups. Stepwise regression analysis showed that C-IMT (β=0.36, t=2.86, P=0.006) and waist circumference (β=0.3, t=2.44, P=0.018), in the order they entered into the model, were independent predictors of EFT in patients with NAFLD. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that EFT and C-IMT were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD compared with the controls and waist circumference and C-IMT are independent predictors for EFT in patients with NAFLD.