Increased epicardial adipose tissue thickness associated with increased metabolic risk and the presence of heart failure in patients with Chronic Chagas disease

RODELES, LUZ MARÍA; CASTRO, MAXIMILIANO; ZAMORA, MARÍA AYELEN GAITÁN; SAVARINO, ROBERTO; PEVERENGO, LUZ MARÍA; PROCHETTO, ESTEFANÍA SOLEDAD; MARCIPAR, IVÁN; ARIAS, PABLO; VICCO, MIGUEL HERNÁN

TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Año: 2021

0035-9203

Background: It has been described that Trypanosoma cruzi is capable of promoting metabolic disturbances currentlyconsidered as cardiovascular risk factors. Moreover, it has been observed that the protozoa can remain inadipose tissue and alter its immune endocrine functions. The aim of this study was to characterize the thicknessof epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in patients with chronic Chagas disease (CCD) concerning their cardiovascularmetabolic risk profile compared with those without CCD.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed including T. cruzi seropositive individuals categorized accordingto a standard CCD classification and a matched seronegative control group. Complete clinical examination,metabolic laboratory tests and transthoracic echocardiography to assess cardiac function and to quantify EATwere performed.Results: Fifty-five individuals aged 46.7±11.9 y, 34 with CCD and 21 in the control group, were included. The CCDgroup presented higher EAT thickness in relation to controls (4.54±1.28 vs 3.22±0.99 mm; p=0.001), which wassignificantly associated with the presence of insulin resistance (OR=3, 95% CI 1.58 to 5.73; p