Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging (2015) 42:1562–1573 DOI 10.1007/s00259-015-3087-5

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The impact of obesity on the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue, left ventricular mass and coronary microvascular function M. J. Bakkum 1 & I. Danad 1 & M. A. J. Romijn 1 & W. J. A. Stuijfzand 1 & R. M. Leonora 1 & I. I. Tulevski 2 & G. A. Somsen 2 & A. A. Lammertsma 3 & C. van Kuijk 3 & A. C. van Rossum 1 & P. G. Raijmakers 3 & P. Knaapen 1

Received: 13 November 2014 / Accepted: 11 May 2015 / Published online: 9 June 2015 # The Author(s) 2015. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com

Abstract Purpose Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary microvascular dysfunction. However, its injurious effect may also impact the underlying myocardium. This study aimed to determine the impact of obesity on the quantitative relationship between left ventricular mass (LVM), EAT and coronary microvascular function. Methods A total of 208 (94 men, 45 %) patients evaluated for CAD but free of coronary obstructions underwent quantitative [15O]H2O hybrid positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging. Coronary microvascular resistance (CMVR) was calculated as the ratio of mean arterial pressure to hyperaemic myocardial blood flow. Results Obese patients [body mass index (BMI)>25, n=133, 64 % of total] had more EAT (125.3±47.6 vs 93.5±42.1 cc, p