الفهرس 
Chapter (1): Epicardial Adipose TissueOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Visceral adipose tissue is not only a fat deposition around internal
organs. It performs endocrine and metabolic functions, representing an
important source of a number of bioactive molecules that can profoundly
affect energy metabolism as well as vascular, immunologic, and
inflammatory responses.
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a true visceral fat deposited
between the heart and pericardium, particularly in the atrioventricular and
interventricular sulcus, lateral wall of the right ventricle, and around the
coronary arteries.
Its presumed physiologic functions include lipid storage and hormone,
cytokine and chemokine secretion, and is associated with metabolic
syndrome, insulin resistance, coronary artery disease, and hypertension.
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is considered to play an important
role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). EAT releases a
wide range of biologically active molecules that modulate vascular smoothmuscle contraction.
Their paracrine effects might be attributable to their location being
close to the adventitia and extravascular bed. Recent studies have suggested
that increased EAT thickness may serve as a novel cardio-metabolic risk
factor and may be linked to hypertension.
Hypertension causes compensatory processes in heart due to
increased chronic workload manifested as left ventricular hypertrophy
(LVH), which is frequently diagnosed by echo-cardiography.
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important predictor of mortality and morbidity in patients with hypertension as may lead to diastolic dysfunction, may reduce coronary flow reserve and may facilitate ventricular
arrhythmias.
Moreover, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a marker of
subclinical cardiovascular disease.
Association between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness and
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is still unclear.
Evaluation of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness by
transthoracic echocardiography has come to the forefront because of many
advantages, such as easy availability, low cost, no radiation exposure,
fastness, and reproducibility.
The current study aimed to assess the relationship of Epicardial
adipose tissue (EAT) thickness in hypertensive patients with or without left ventricular hypertrophy.
This case control study population consisted of 105 consecutive
patients with hypertension and a control group of 30 apparently healthy
individuals were included.