Relationship between epicardial adipose tissue characteristics measured by multidetector computed tomography and blood biomarkers in patients with atrial fibrillation

Aim . To evaluate the association of computed tomography measurements (volume and density) of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) with the blood concentration of adipokines, proinflammatory cytokines and catecholamines in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods . We included 32 patients (median age 58.5 (52.5; 64.0); 18 men) with AF scheduled for radiofrequency ablation. All patients underwent multispiral computed tomographic coronary angiography and segmentation of the EAT. In addition, the concentration of adiponectin, leptin, resistin, interleukins 1b, 6, 8 and methanephrine in the blood was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Results . А negative correlation was established between the volume and the density of EAT (r= - 0.5, p<0.05). The X-ray density of EAT negatively correlated with the concentration of methanephrine (r= -0.4) and leptin (r= -0.4), and positively correlated with the concentration of interleukin-8 (r=0.36). In addition, the duration of AF was negatively correlated with the density of EAT (r=-0.42, p<0.05) and positively correlated with the concentration of blood methanephrine (r=0.34, p<0.05). No associations were found between the volume of EAT and the studied blood biomarkers. Conclusion . The results of the study showed an association between EAT X-ray density and the concentration of leptin, interleukin-8 and metanephrine in AF patients.