Relation of coronary collateral circulation with epicardial fat volume in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Objective: To investigated the relationship between epicardial fat volume (EFV) and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: The study population consisted of 152 consecutive patients with CAD who underwent coronary angiography and were found to have at least 95% significiant lesion in at least one major coronary artery. EFV was assessed utilizing 64-multislice computed tomography. The patients were classifield into impaired CCC group (Group 1, Rentrop grades 0-1, n = 58), or adequate CCC (Group 2, Rentrop grades 2-3, n = 94). Results: The EFV values were significantly higher in paitients with adequate CCC than in those with impaired CCC. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, EFV (OR = 1.059; 95% CI: 1.035-1.085; P = 0.001); and presence of angina were independent predictors of adequate CCC. In receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the EFV value > 106.5 mL yielded an area under the curve value of 0.84, with the test sensitivity of 49.3%, and with 98.3% specifity. Conclusions: High EFV, and the presence of angina independently predict adequate CCC in patients with stable coronary artery disease. This association offers new diagnostic opportinities to assess collateral flow by conventional ultrasound techniques.