Original Research

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness on Transthoracic Echocardiography in Patients With Behçet Disease

Corresponding Author

Hakan Taşolar MD

[email protected]

Department of Cardiology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey

Address correspondence to Hakan Taşolar, MD, T. C. Sağlık Bakanlığı, Adiyaman Üniversitesi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Hastane Caddesi, Merkez, 02100 Adiyaman, Turkey.Search for more papers by this author

Sevgi Taşolar MD,

Sevgi Taşolar MD

Department of Radiology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey

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Duygu Kurtuluş MD,

Duygu Kurtuluş MD

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

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Burak Altun MD,

Burak Altun MD

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale 18 Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey

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Adil Bayramoğlu MD,

Adil Bayramoğlu MD

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

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Yılmaz Ömür Otlu MD,

Yılmaz Ömür Otlu MD

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

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Mehmet Ballı MD,

Mehmet Ballı MD

Department of Cardiology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey

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Mustafa Çetin MD,

Mustafa Çetin MD

Department of Cardiology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey

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Nihal Altunışık MD,

Nihal Altunışık MD

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

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Yelda Kapıcıoğlu MD,

Yelda Kapıcıoğlu MD

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

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Hasan Pekdemir MD,

Hasan Pekdemir MD

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

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Hakan Taşolar MD,

Corresponding Author

Hakan Taşolar MD

[email protected]

Department of Cardiology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey

Sevgi Taşolar MD,

Sevgi Taşolar MD

Department of Radiology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey

Search for more papers by this author

Duygu Kurtuluş MD,

Duygu Kurtuluş MD

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Search for more papers by this author

Burak Altun MD,

Burak Altun MD

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale 18 Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey

Search for more papers by this author

Adil Bayramoğlu MD,

Adil Bayramoğlu MD

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

Search for more papers by this author

Yılmaz Ömür Otlu MD,

Yılmaz Ömür Otlu MD

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

Search for more papers by this author

Mehmet Ballı MD,

Mehmet Ballı MD

Department of Cardiology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey

Search for more papers by this author

Mustafa Çetin MD,

Mustafa Çetin MD

Department of Cardiology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey

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Nihal Altunışık MD,

Nihal Altunışık MD

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

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Yelda Kapıcıoğlu MD,

Yelda Kapıcıoğlu MD

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

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Hasan Pekdemir MD,

Hasan Pekdemir MD

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

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First published: 01 August 2014

https://doi.org/10.7863/ultra.33.8.1393

Citations: 6

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Abstract

Objectives

Owing to the fact that the potential frequency of endothelial dysfunction and early atherosclerosis might be higher in Behçet disease, characterized by acute and chronic inflammatory attacks, it may lead to impairment in flow-mediated dilatation and an increase in epicardial adipose tissue thickness. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether epicardial adipose tissue thickness and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation as markers of early atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction were associated with Behçet disease.

Methods

Thirty-five patients with Behçet disease and 35 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Epicardial adipose tissue was identified as an anechoic space between epicardial layers on 2-dimensional images, and its thickness was measured on the free wall of the right ventricle. Right brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation was assessed according to recent guidelines.

Results

Serum γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels and epicardial adipose tissue thickness were significantly higher (P = .001; P < .001 respectively), whereas flow-mediated, endothelium-dependent dilatation was significantly lower in the Behçet disease group than controls (P < .001). There was a significant negative association between epicardial adipose tissue thickness and flow-mediated dilatation (P < .001). Epicardial adipose tissue thickness was also positively correlated with Behçet disease activity (P< .001), Behçet disease duration (P< .001), and waist circumference (P< .001). Flow-mediated dilatation was negatively correlated with GGT (P< .001), Behçet disease activity (P< .001), and age (P< .001). There was also a significant association between GGT and Behçet disease activity (P < .001).

Conclusions

We found that epicardial adipose tissue thickness was significantly higher and flow-mediated dilatation was significantly lower in patients with Behçet disease than in controls. We suggest that identification of increased epicardial adipose tissue might aid in the diagnosis and treatment of possible coronary artery disease in patients with Behçet disease.

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Volume33, Issue8

August 2014

Pages 1393-1400

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness on Transthoracic Echocardiography in Patients With Behçet Disease

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

References

Citing Literature

References

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Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness on Transthoracic Echocardiography in Patients With Behçet Disease

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

References

Citing Literature

References

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