An increase in epicardial fat in women is associated with thrombotic risk

• Published in: Clinica e investigacion en arteriosclerosis : publicacion oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Arteriosclerosis Vol. 30; no. 3; p. 112
• Main Authors: Basurto Acevedo, Lourdes, Barrera Hernández, Susana, Fernández Muñoz, María de Jesús, Saucedo García, Renata Patricia, Rodríguez Luna, Ana Karen, Martínez Murillo, Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain 01.05.2018
• Subjects: Obesidad; Obesity; Tejido adiposo epicádico; Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; Inhibidor del activador del plasminógeno tipo-1; Epicardial adipose tissue
• ISSN: 1578-1879
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arteri.2017.10.004

A decrease in fibrinolytic activity and an increase in the thickness of the epicardial adipose tissue have been observed in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to determine the association between epicardial adipose tissue and fibrinolytic activity by measuring the concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 56 apparently healthy women aged 45 to 60 years. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical determinations were performed on all participants. The fibrinolytic activity was determined by measuring PAI-1 by ELISA. Epicardial thickness was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography. The concentration of PAI-1 was directly associated with the thickness of the epicardial adipose tissue (r=0.475, P=.001), body mass index (BMI), visceral adipose tissue, insulin resistance, glucose, and HDL-cholesterol. The multivariate regression analysis indicated that epicardial fat independently predicts the concentrations of PAI-1. Women with thicker epicardial adipose tissue have reduced fibrinolytic activity, and consequently greater thrombotic risk.