双源CT心周脂肪定量与冠状动脉病变特点及斑块类型的关系

目的本研究通过64排双源CT测定心周脂肪组织（PAT）体积,分析PAT体积与冠状动脉病变支数、病变部位、病变狭窄程度以及斑块类型之间的关系,以期探讨PAT体积对冠状动脉粥样硬化病变程度的预测价值。方法同期行64排双源CT和经皮冠状动脉造影检查的310例患者入选,进行腰围、体质指数（BMI）、空腹血生化测定。使用64排双源CT测定PAT体积、钙化积分和斑块类型。通过经皮冠状动脉造影检查明确冠心病诊断、病变支数、病变部位,并采用Gensini积分量化冠状动脉狭窄的严重程度。结果 （1）冠心病患者的PAT体积明显大于非冠心病患者（P=0.004）;急性冠脉综合征患者的PAT体积明显大于稳定性心绞痛患者（P=0.009）。（2）双支和三支病变患者PAT体积与单支病变患者相比,PAT体积明显增加（P〈0.001）。（3）Gensini积分随着PAT体积增大而增加。（4）多元线性逐步回归分析显示PAT体积、BMI、空腹血糖是影响Gensini积分的独立危险因素。（5）PAT体积与钙化积分具有明显正相关性（r=0.31,P〈0.001）。（6）混合型斑块的PAT体积最大,其病变节段积分明显高于其他类型（P〈0.01）。结论 PAT体积与冠心病的发生、冠心病分型、冠状动脉病变支数、钙化积分存在强的相关性,是影响Gensini积分的独立危险因素。     

冠心病患者脉搏波传导速度与心功能的相关性

目的研究冠心病患者脉搏波传导速度(PWV)与心功能的相关性。方法选取经冠状动脉造影确诊为冠心病者366例,收集一般临床资料,测定肱踝PWV(baPWV),行超声心动图检查等,同时在入选患者中选取44例行多普勒组织成像。结果冠心病患者baPWV与室间隔厚度(r=0.306,P<0.001)、左心室后壁厚度(r=0.365,P<0.001)、左心室质量分数(r=0.293,P<0.001)和E/Ea(r=0.458,P<0.01)呈显著正相关,与射血分数(r=-0.210,P<0.001)、Ea(r=-0.428,P<0.01)、Ea/Aa(r=-0.331,P<0.05)呈显著负相关。在除外高血压等的影响后,偏相关分析显示,baPWV与室间隔厚度(r=0.231,P<0.001)、左心室后壁厚度(r=0.320,P<0.001)、左心室质量分数(r=0.233,P<0.001)、射血分数(r=-0.182,P<0.001)、Ea(r=-0.429,P<0.01)、Ea/Aa(r=-0.339,P<0.05)、E/Ea(r=0.437,P<0.01)仍显著相关。冠心病患者不同心功能分级组间的baPWV差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),baPWV随临床心功能恶化而升高。结论 baPWV与冠心病患者左心室肥厚、左心室收缩和舒张功能、临床心功能均具有相关性,baPWV可以作为评估冠心病患者心功能的一个指标。     

颈动脉内膜-中层厚度及斑块与冠心病的关系

目的:探讨颈动脉内膜 中层厚度(IMT)及斑块在判断冠心病(CHD)及其严重程度方面的价值。方法:对104例可疑或确诊的CHD患者,用高分辨率超声心动图测量双侧颈总动脉远端的 IMT、斑块与选择性冠状动脉造影结果进行对比研究,比较CHD组(62例)和非 CHD组(42 例)及 CHD各亚组间颈总动脉 IMT及斑块发生率,冠状动脉受累支数及程度与 IMT、斑块的关系。结果:①CHD患者的平均颈总动脉 IMT及斑块的发生率均显著高于非CHD组患者(P<0.01),多支病变者高于单支病变者(P<0.05)。②平均颈总动脉 IMT与CHD患者冠状动脉狭窄程度无显著相关( r=0.164,P>0.05),CHD患者中有斑块者的冠状动脉狭窄程度显著重于无斑块者(P<0.05);斑块积分与冠状动脉狭窄程度呈显著正相关( r=0.448, P<0.01)。③斑块的发生判断CHD的敏感性为40.32%,特异性为97.67%。结论:超声测量颈总动脉 IMT、斑块可间接判断 CHD的有无及其病变范围和严重程度。     

冠心病患者冠状动脉狭窄程度与循环B型利钠肽水平的关系

目的探讨冠心病患者冠状动脉狭窄与循环B型利钠肽(BNP)水平的相关性。方法选取冠心病患者85例作为冠心病组,同期无血管病变者46例作为对照组。采用Gensini评分系统评定冠状动脉狭窄程度,心脏超声测定左心室舒张未内径(LVDd)、左心室舒张末期容积(LVEDV)、LVEF、二尖瓣舒张早期运动速度(E)及舒张晚期运动速度(A),并计算E/A比值。用放射免疫法测定BNP浓度。结果冠心病组心功能(NYHA)Ⅲ级患者的E A值较Ⅰ、Ⅱ级降低,血清BNP水平较Ⅰ、Ⅱ级增加,血清BNP水平与E/A呈负相关(r=-0.61,P<0.05);冠心病组心功能Ⅲ级患者LVEDV、BNP水平较对照组显著升高(P<0.05),血清BNP与LVEDV呈正相关(r=0.65.P<0.05)。冠心病组LVEF较对照组明显减低(P<0.05),血清BNP较对照组升高(P<0.01)。Gensini积分与血清BNP水平呈正相关(r=0.851,P<0.01)。结论冠心痛患者血清BNP水平升高除与心功能不全相关外,心肌缺血亦可影响BNP分泌,导致循环BNP升高。     

糖化血红蛋白水平与冠状动脉病变支数及心功能的相关性研究

目的：探讨血清糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）水平与冠心病患者冠状动脉病变支数和心功能的关系。方法对253例入住我院并接受冠状动脉造影检查确诊为冠心病的患者,按HbAlc水平分为3组：正常组（HbA1c≤5.6％,n=75）、临界组（HbA1c 5.7％～6.4％,n=85）、升高组（HbA1c≥6.5%,n=89）。根据冠状动脉病变支数分为单支病变组（n＝95）、双支病变组（n＝103）和多支病变组（n＝55）,分析HbA1c水平与冠状动脉病变支数及心功能的相关性。结果 HbAlc水平与冠状动脉病变支数呈正相关（r=0.75,P＜0.01）。HbAlc水平三支病变组高于双支病变组,双支病变组高于单支病变组,临界组和升高组的左心室舒张末期内径（LVEDd）及B型脑钠肽（BNP）均高于正常组,左心室射血分数（LVEF）均低于正常组,升高组的LVEDd及BNP高于临界组、LVEF低于临界组（均P＜0.01）。HbAlc水平与LVEDd及BNP水平均呈正相关（r=0.73、0.62,均P＜0.05）,与LVEF呈负相关（r=-0.58,P＜0.05）。结论 HbAlc增高者冠状动脉病变支数较多,左心室腔较大,心功能较差。     

心外膜脂肪组织厚度对冠心病的预测价值

目的分析心外膜脂肪组织(EAT)厚度对冠心病的预测价值。方法收集2013-09-09—2014-09-09因胸痛和/或负荷试验异常在首都医科大学附属北京安贞医院心内科就诊的患者300例,根据冠状动脉造影检查结果分为冠心病198例(冠心病组)和非冠心病组102例(非冠心病组)。单支病变及双支病变定义为轻度病变组(n=40)、三支病变及左主干病变定义为严重病变组(n=158)。采用超声心动图测量EAT厚度,采用Gensini评分系统评价冠状动脉总积分(CAS),比较两组患者EAT厚度,比较不同冠状动脉病变程度患者EAT厚度,并分析CAS与EAT厚度的相关性。结果冠心病组患者左心室长轴EAT厚度、左心室短轴EAT厚度及平均EAT厚度大于非冠心病组(P0.05)。严重病变组患者EAT厚度大于轻度病变组和非冠心病组,轻度病变组患者EAT厚度大于非冠心病组(P0.05)。Pearson相关性分析结果显示,CAS与EAT厚度呈正相关(r=0.600,P0.001)。结论 EAT厚度可预测冠心病及其严重程度,且检测方法简单无创,具有很强的临床实用性。     

颈动脉粥样硬化与冠心病关系的研究

目的:研究颈动脉粥样硬化与冠心病的关系。方法:对301例冠状动脉造影的患者作双侧颈动脉超声检查,根据冠脉造影结果分为正常组及冠心病组,冠心病组根据冠状动脉病变支数再分为一支病变组,二支病变组,三支病变组3个亚组。测量颈总动脉后壁内中膜厚度(IMT),斑块厚度,计算斑块积分及粥样斑块发生率。结果:(1)冠心病组IMT,斑块积分及斑块发生率明显高于正常对照组(P<0.01)。(2)随冠脉病变支数增加,斑块积分及IMT增加,亚组比较有显著性差异(P<0.01)。(3)以IMT>0.85mm和(或)出现粥样斑块预测冠心病,特异性75.3％,敏感性84.6％,阳性预测率88.4％。结论:通过颈动脉超声检查可为冠心病的诊断提供依据。     

冠心病患者冠状动脉病变血管数与高敏C反应蛋白、颈动脉斑块分级和内皮功能的相关性

目的探讨冠心病患者冠状动脉病变血管数与高敏C反应蛋白(hsCRP)、内皮依赖血管舒张功能、颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)和斑块积分的相关性。方法采用高分辨率血管超声法检测76例冠心病患者与30例非冠心病对照组肱动脉血流介导的内皮依赖性血管舒张功能(FMD)、颈动脉IMT及斑块积分;并检测患者血液中hsCRP水平,对冠心病患者进行冠状动脉造影,根据冠状动脉病变血管数将冠心病患者分为3组:单支病变组、双支病变组及三支病变组。结果冠心病患者的血浆hsCRP显著高于对照组,FMD在冠心病各亚组中明显降低,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(均为P<0.05);IMT在冠心病组中明显增厚,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(均为P<0.05);颈动脉斑块积分在冠心病各亚组间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。冠心病患者冠状动脉病变血管数与血浆hsCRP及斑块积分呈正相关,与FMD呈负相关。结论血浆hsCRP、FMD及颈动脉斑块积分的检测与冠心病患者冠状动脉病变支数相关。     

老年冠状动脉粥样硬化患者病变程度与红细胞体积分布宽度的相关性

目的探讨老年冠状动脉粥样硬化患者病变程度与红细胞体积分布宽度(RDW)的相关性。方法选取行冠状动脉造影手术的439例老年患者,询问病史、测量身高、体重、血压等,检测血常规、血生物化学等指标,根据冠状动脉造影检查结果将372例冠心病(CHD)患者分为1支病变组(n=174)、2支病变组(n=89)和多支病变组(n=109),并将67例冠状动脉造影未见异常且血流正常患者作为对照组。比较4组RDW。结果 CHD组较对照组RDW值显著升高(P0.05),血管病变支数不同的亚组中,RDW值与血管病变支数呈正相关(P0.05)。RDW与Gensini积分呈线性正相关(r=0.184,P=0.000 4),超敏C反应蛋白(hsCRP)与Gensini积分呈显著正相关(r=0.376,P0.000 1),中性粒细胞比值(NPG)与Gensini积分呈显著正相关(r=0.243,P0.001),RDW与hs-CRP及NGP均呈正相关(r=0.178,P0.000 1;r=0.199,P=0.032)。多元Logistic回归分析,RDW是老年CHD的独立危险因素。结论 RDW可反映冠脉病变支数及严重程度,可能与机体的慢性炎症反应有关,是老年CHD的独立预测因子。     

宝石能谱CT对冠心病患者斑块形成、左室功能的评估价值

目的 探讨宝石能谱计算机断层扫描(CT)对冠心病患者斑块形成、左室功能的评估价值。方法 回顾性分析100例冠心病患者临床病历资料,采用宝石能谱CT检测冠心病患者斑块形成特点、左室功能[左室收缩末期容积值(LVESV)、左室舒张末期容积值(LVEDV)、左室射血分数(LVEF)和搏出量(SV)],分析不同程度冠状动脉狭窄与头颈动脉粥样硬化的相关性。结果 100例患者血管内超声(IVUS)共检查331个斑块,其中软斑块占72.20%,钙化斑块占14.20%,混合斑块占13.60%;宝石能谱CT共检查324个斑块,其中软斑块占72.84%,钙化斑块占16.36%,混合斑块占10.80%。与左主干、左回降支及右冠状动脉相比,左前降支的斑块数、软斑块、钙化斑块数及混合斑块数明显升高(P<0.05)。以超声心功能检查结果为准,宝石能谱CT检测冠心病患者左心室功能结果与超声心功能检查结果更接近,IVUS与宝石能谱CT评估结果比较差异存在统计学意义(P<0.05)。随着冠脉狭窄程度升高,颈内外动脉狭窄程度明显增加,且冠状动脉狭窄程度与颈内外动脉狭窄程度呈正相关(r=0.465、0.401,...     

Diastolic aortic pressure rise during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: an index of left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES--To investigate the relation between diastolic aortic pressure response and left ventricular systolic dysfunction during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. BACKGROUND--The abnormal diastolic blood pressure rise during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease probably reflects left ventricular systolic dysfunction rather than the number of stenosed coronary arteries. METHODS--Aortic blood pressures and left ventricular systolic function indices were estimated in 26 patients with single proximal stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery both before and during angioplasty. RESULTS--During coronary angioplasty all patients presented an increase in diastolic aortic pressure (P << 0.001), 8-12s before intracoronary electrocardiographic changes. During acute ischaemia there was a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (P << 0.001) and stroke volume (P << 0.001) and an increase in end systolic volume (P << 0.001) and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (P << 0.001). No statistically significant changes were observed in systolic blood pressure or heart rate. The aortic diastolic pressure increase was correlated with the decrease in ejection fraction (r = -0.95, P << 0.001) and with the increases in end systolic volume (r = 0.86, P << 0.001) and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (r = 0.85, P << 0.001). CONCLUSIONS--The rise in diastolic aortic pressure during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty occurs earlier than intracoronary electrocardiographic changes and is related to ischaemic left ventricular systolic dysfunction.     

Relation of epicardial and pericoronary fat to coronary atherosclerosis and coronary artery calcium in patients undergoing coronary angiography

Fat surrounding coronary arteries might aggravate coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the relation between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericoronary fat and coronary atherosclerosis and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in patients with suspected CAD and whether this relation is modified by total body weight. This was a cross-sectional study of 128 patients with angina pectoris (61 +/- 6 years of age) undergoing coronary angiography. EAT volume and pericoronary fat thickness were measured with cardiac computed tomography. Severity of coronary atherosclerosis was assessed by the number of stenotic (> or =50%) coronary vessels; extent of CAC was determined by the Agatston score. Patients were stratified for median total body weight (body mass index [BMI] 27 kg/m(2)). Overall, EAT and pericoronary fat were not associated with severity of coronary atherosclerosis and extent of CAC. In patients with low BMI, those with multivessel disease had increased EAT volume (100 vs 67 cm(3), p = 0.04) and pericoronary fat thickness (9.8 vs 8.4 mm, p = 0.06) compared with those without CAD. Also, patients with severe CAC had increased EAT volume (108.0 vs 69 cm(3), p = 0.02) and pericoronary fat thickness (10.0 vs 8.2 mm, p value = 0.01) compared with those with minimal/absent CAC. In conclusion, EAT and pericoronary fat were not associated with severity of coronary atherosclerosis and CAC in patients with suspected CAD. However, in those with low BMI, increased EAT and pericoronary fat were related to more severe coronary atherosclerosis and CAC. Fat surrounding coronary arteries may be involved in the process of coronary atherosclerosis, although this is different for patients with low and high BMIs.     

Associations of serum salusin-alpha levels with atherosclerosis and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in essential hypertension

Serum salusin-alpha, is decreased in essential hypertension and acute coronary syndrome. The study is aimed to explore whether serum salusin-alpha is associated with atherosclerosis and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in essential hypertension. Echocardiography, carotid ultrasonography, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) and serum salusin-alpha levels were determined in 60 hypertensive patients (29 with and 31 without carotid plaque) and 30 normotensive controls. Hypertensive patients with plaque, compared with those without plaque or the controls, had the lowest values of salusin-alpha. Then the hypertensive patients were divided into left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and non-LVH groups according to the echocardiography. Similarly, hypertensive patients with LVH showed the lowest serum salusin-alpha levels. In all subjects, serum salusin-alpha levels were negatively correlated with carotid mean-intima-media thickness (IMT), BaPWV, left ventricle mass index (LVMI) and E/E' (r=-0.488, P<0.001; r=-0.381, P<0.001; r=-0.294, P=0.006; r=-0.303, P=0.005; respectively). Serum salusin-alpha levels were independent predictors of BaPWV, carotid strain, carotid distensibility, mean-IMT, LVMI and E'/A' (β=-0.399, 0.283, 0.237, -0.346, -0.306, 0.469; P=0.002, 0.031, 0.016, 0.005, 0.012 and 0.001, respectively) in multiple linear regression models. These results suggest that serum salusin-alpha may be associated with atherosclerosis and LV diastolic dysfunction in essential hypertension.     

Peri-coronary epicardial adipose tissue is related to cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery calcification in post-menopausal women.

AIMS: To determine whether peri-coronary epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with vascular risk factors and coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, 573 healthy post-menopausal women underwent a cardiac CT scan to assess coronary calcification. Peri-coronary EAT thickness was measured in the areas of right coronary artery (RCA), left anterior descending (LAD) artery, and left circumflex (LCX) coronary artery. Average EAT thickness was 16.5 +/- 4.3 mm (range 5.9-34.6) in the RCA area, 6.4 +/- 2.2 mm (range 2.0-14.0) in the LAD area, and 10.8 +/- 3.0 mm (range 2.8-29.1) in the LCX area. Overall average thickness was 11.2 +/- 2.2 mm (range 5.4-19.1). EAT was positively related to age (P = 0.002). In age-adjusted linear regression models, EAT was positively related to weight (P< 0.001), waist circumference (P< 0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (P< 0.001), body mass index (P< 0.001), glucose (P< 0.001), triglycerides (P = 0.001), use of anti-hypertensive drugs (P = 0.007), and systolic blood pressure (P = 0.034), and inversely to HDL cholesterol (P = 0.005). In multivariable models, age, weight, waist circumference, smoking, and glucose were the main determinants of EAT. EAT showed a graded relation with coronary calcification (P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: EAT is strongly related to vascular risk factors and coronary calcification. Our findings support the hypothesis that EAT affects coronary atherosclerosis and possibly coronary risk.     

Effects of cardiovascular risk factors on coronary artery remodeling in patients with mild atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: Vascular remodeling counteracts luminal encroachment during the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) and modulates the manifestation of hemodynamically significant lesions. However, the role of cardiovascular risk factors for coronary remodeling has not been fully clarified. METHODS: Therefore, we investigated the role of local plaque burden and systemic risk factors on coronary vascular remodeling in 25 patients (49 segments) with angiographically normal or minimally diseased coronary arteries by intravascular ultrasound. In an additional 12 patients without coronary atherosclerosis, physiological vessel tapering was determined and used to calculate the extent of remodeling in diseased segments. RESULTS: An increase in local plaque burden was directly correlated with positive vascular remodeling (r = 0.54, P<0.001). However, cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension (P<0.001) and hypercholesterolemia (P = 0.03) were associated with reduced positive or even negative remodeling. Moreover, the total number of classical cardiovascular risk factors was a strong predictor for reduced positive remodeling (P for trend <0.001). In contrast, coronary flow reserve, a measure of shear stress imposed on the vessel wall, positively correlated with compensatory enlargement (r = 0.44, P = 0.002). By multivariate analysis, plaque burden (P = 0.001), hypertension (P = 0.001) and coronary flow reserve (P = 0.018) proved to be independent determinants of vascular remodeling of epicardial coronary arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular risk factors impair compensatory arterial enlargement and even predispose to shrinkage of epicardial arteries during the initial stage of atherosclerosis. Reduced positive vascular remodeling might contribute to the clinical manifestation of CAD by facilitating the development of flow-limiting stenoses in patients at risk.     

Relationships between echocardiographic findings, pulse wave velocity, and carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients.

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the relationships between echocardiographic findings, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, and carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients. In 70 type 2 diabetic patients without cardiovascular disease, pulse wave velocity was measured using an automatic waveform analyzer, and the carotid plaque score was obtained by carotid ultrasonography. The left ventricular wall thickness and the indexes of left ventricular diastolic function (the peak velocity of early rapid filling [E velocity], the peak velocity of atrial filling [A velocity], and the E/A ratio) were obtained by echocardiography. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity correlated significantly with the carotid plaque score, but the correlation was weak (r=0.37, p=0.001). The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity demonstrated a strong correlation with the A velocity (r=0.73, p<0.001), the ratio of E to A (E/A) (r=-0.63, p<0.001), and the deceleration time of the E velocity (r=0.48, p<0.001). Stepwise regression analysis showed that the A velocity (beta coefficient=0.42, p<0.001) and ventricular septal thickness at the left ventricular outflow tract (beta coefficient=0.27, p=0.001) were independently associated with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that ventricular septal thickness at the left ventricular outflow tract (beta coefficient=0.38, p=0.001) was independently associated with the plaque score. These results indicate that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction as revealed by increased peak velocity of atrial filling reflects arterial stiffening in type 2 diabetic patients. In addition, myocardial wall thickening at the left ventricular outflow tract reflects not only arterial stiffening but also carotid atherosclerosis. Therefore, these abnormal echocardiographic findings of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and myocardial wall thickening may be useful markers of the presence of progressive arteriosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients.     

冠心病血管内皮功能、颈动脉硬化与冠脉病变的关系

目的：观察冠心病（CAD）患者内皮依赖性舒张功能及颈动脉粥样硬化的状况及与冠状动脉病变的相关性。方法：选经冠状动脉造影确诊为CAD的患者106例（观察组），冠状动脉造影证实无冠状动脉狭窄的健康者40例（正常对照组），采用二维超声检测肱动脉内皮依赖性和非依赖性舒张功能及颈动脉粥样硬化病变。颈动脉粥样硬化斑块积分采用Sutton法，并与冠状动脉病变程度进行对比分析。结果：CAD组内皮依赖性血管舒缩功能（FMD）比正常对照组明显降低（P〈0．01），内皮非依赖性血管舒缩功能与正常对照组比较无显著性差异（P〉0．05）；CAD组颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT），斑块积分显著高于正常对照组（P〈0．01）。FMD与冠脉病变程度呈负相关（r=-0．651，P〈0．001），颈动脉IMI及斑块积分与冠脉病变程度呈正相关（r=0．871，0．702，P〈0．001）。结论：内皮细胞功能障碍和颈动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化的病变相平行。     

Is the blood flow in the left ventricle during the isovolumic relaxation period a useful parameter of left ventricular systolic and early diastolic performance?

Left ventricular (LV) early diastolic performance is determined by LV behavior in the late systole to early diastole and may relate to the physical potential of patients. Isovolumic relaxation flow (IRF) velocity was obtained by continuous Doppler echocardiography in the left ventricle from the apex in 26 patients with atypical chest pain and 63 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with or without prior myocardial infarction (MI) who underwent cardiac catheterization. In each patient, a time constant of LV relaxation (tau) was calculated from the LV pressure waves obtained by a catheter-tipped micromanometer. The LV end-systolic volume index was measured using contrast left ventriculography. IRF velocity in patients having CAD with prior MI (24.8 +/- 5.4 cm/s) was significantly less than in those with atypical chest pain (41.2 +/- 9.6 cm/s). It was also significantly less than in patients having CAD without prior MI (37.3 +/- 6.8 cm/s). IRF velocity significantly correlated with the time constant tau (r = -0.42, p < 0.001) and LV end-systolic volume index (r = -0.84, p < 0.001). This study indicates that IRF velocity obtained by continuous Doppler echocardiography in the left ventricle provides important information regarding LV systolic performance and early diastolic performance.     

Epicardial adipose tissue as a predictor of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic subjects

This study sought to elucidate the relation between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness measured by multidetector computed tomography and presence of coronary artery atherosclerosis. Recent studies have suggested that fat disposition in visceral organs and epicardial tissue could serve as a predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). The sample included 190 asymptomatic subjects with ≥ 1 cardiovascular risk factor who were referred for cardiac computed tomographic angiography. Body mass index, blood pressure, fasting glucose level, and lipid profile were measured. Multidetector computed tomographic results were analyzed for atherosclerosis burden, calcium Agatston score, and EAT thickness: mean EAT values were 3.54 ± 1.59 mm in patients with atherosclerosis and 1.85 ± 1.28 mm in patients without atherosclerosis (p <0.001). On receiver operating characteristic analysis, an EAT value ≥ 2.4 mm predicted the presence of significant (>50% diameter) coronary artery stenosis. There was a significant difference in EAT values between patients with and without metabolic syndrome (2.58 ± 1.63 vs 2.04 ± 1.46 mm, p <0.05) and between patients with a calcium score >400 and <400 (3.38 ± 1.58 vs 2.02 ± 1.42 mm, p <0.0001). In conclusion, asymptomatic patients with CAD have significantly more EAT than patients without CAD. An EAT thickness of 2.4 mm is the optimal cutoff for prediction of presence of significant CAD.