Nicolae Testemitsanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Institute for Mother and Child Health Care, Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova, The IVth Congress of Radiology and Medical Imaging of the Republic of Moldova with international participation, Chisinau, May 31 – June 2, 2018Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is an active endocrine organ located at the surface of the heart and playing an important role
in the development and progression of cardiovascular pathology.
Material and methods: The study included a group of 22 children with metabolic syndrome (MS) and a group of 38 children with pre-MS.
The diagnosis of MS was established according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) consensus definition of metabolic syndrome
in children and adolescents (IDF, 2007). Anthropometric parameters and echocardiographic results were studied in detail and correlated. The
study was approved by the Scientific Research Ethics Committee. An informed consent was obtained for all participants included in the study.
Results: EAT thickness measured by echocardiography was 5,73±1,53mm in MS vs 3,87±1,25mm in pre-MS (p < 0,05). Furthermore, EAT
thickness demonstrated a strong correlation with abdominal index, abdominal-gluteal index, body mass index, left ventricular mass index,
left ventricular hypertrophy and abnormal geometric changes of the left ventricle related to ventricular remodeling. At the same time, EAT
thickness showed no distinct correlation with abdominal circumference, gluteal circumference and left ventricular mass in both groups.
Conclusions: Epicardial adipose tissue represents an indirect, safe, accessible marker of visceral adiposity assessment. The study results also
demonstrate a direct correlation between increased epicardial adipose tissue and abnormal left ventricular parameters as well as ventricular
remodeling
