Khaberni - A recent German study found that an increase in the volume of the fat tissue above the pericardium (the membrane surrounding the heart), detected by cardiovascular imaging, is associated with an increase in heart muscle damage after a myocardial infarction.
Myocardial infarction is known as the death of a part of the heart muscle and occurs when one or more of the coronary arteries become blocked, leading to a cessation of blood flow to the heart muscle.
These findings were presented on December 12th in the current month at the conference of the European Society for Cardiovascular Imaging.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, accounting for about one-third of all deaths, with 85% resulting from myocardial infarction and stroke.
Clara Hagidorn, from the University of Göttingen Hospital in Germany, who presented the study, noted that "the mortality rate after a myocardial infarction greatly depends on the extent of heart muscle damage. Identifying risk factors that affect the severity of heart muscle injury can help identify patients at higher risk."
The fat tissue above the pericardium (EAT) is known as the layer of fat that lies between the heart muscle and the lining of the heart, which directly surrounds the coronary arteries.
In some disease states, this tissue secretes inflammatory mediators that lead to infiltration and narrowing of the heart muscle. Over time, this may result in negative changes to the structure of the heart muscle.
Coronary artery disease
It is known that the fat tissue around the heart (EAT) is linked to coronary artery disease and major cardiovascular events (such as heart attacks and strokes).
Hagidorn clarified: "As a potential indicator, we explored the relationship between the volume of fat tissue around the heart and the extent of heart muscle damage following a myocardial infarction using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)."
A multi-center prospective study included 1168 patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging within 10 days of percutaneous coronary intervention following acute myocardial infarction. The study sample was divided into four quartiles based on the volume of the fat tissue around the heart.
The researchers found that an increase in the volume of fat tissue around the heart (EAT) was linked to an increase in the size of the infarction and the expansion of the areas at risk.
In summarizing the findings, Hagidorn said: "We were able to demonstrate that patients with a greater volume of fat tissue around the heart showed more severe acute heart muscle injury following a myocardial infarction. The non-invasive measurement of the volume of fat tissue around the heart using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging may play a crucial role in assessing cardiovascular risk, going beyond traditional risk factors. Further prospective studies are now needed to validate these results."
The lead author, Dr. Alexander Scholz, from the University of Göttingen Hospital in Germany, concluded the following: "We want to understand more about the mechanisms by which fat tissue around the heart affects the heart muscle. Myocardial infarction occurs relatively late in the development of coronary artery disease, and it might be possible to intervene early in this process, by identifying patients who have a high volume of fat tissue around the heart and modifying its effects as a preventive measure."
