Evaluation oF Epicardial Fat and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Obese Children

BACKGROUND: Epicardial fat has a role in cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVES: To assess epicardial fat and its relation with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in obese adolescents with metabolic syndrome (MetS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 60 obese adolescents and 25 control subjects. According to the presence or absence of MetS, obese subjects were divided into two subgroups. We measured weight, height, calculated Body Mass Index, waist circumference, hip circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and biochemical parameters (fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, High sensitivity C-reactive protein, fasting insulin, a homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance. plus an echocardiographic examination with measurement of epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT). RESULTS: Left ventricular mass index measurements were significantly higher in MetS group than both non-MS and control groups. The MetS and non-MetS obese patients had significantly higher carotid IMT in comparison to the control group. Carotid IMT measurements were significantly higher in MetS group had than both non-MetS and control groups. Also, EATT was significantly increased in patients with MetS compared to control group. Among MetS obese group, EATT was positively correlated with body mass index-standard deviation score, waist circumference, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, triglyceride levels, left ventricular thickness, left ventricular mass index and myocardial performance index. EATT was found to be the only predictor of carotid IMT. CONCLUSIONS: EATT is closely related to carotid IMT and early cardiac dysfunction in obese adolescents with MetS.