The evaluation of the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue thickness and metabolic syndrome parameters in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrinopathy of women characterized by chronic hyperandogenic anovulation. Insulin resistance and accompanying hyperinsulinism play an important role in the pathophysiology. The contribution of central fat accumulation over metabolic and endocrinologic sequela is quite significant in these patients. Both insulin resistance and central obesity are considered as accused factors in the common etiopathogenesis of PCOS and Metabolic Syndrome. Epicardial adipose tissue, that has a common embryological origin with abdominal visceral adipose tissue, is a method available for determining the amounts of visceral adipose tissue. Epicardial adipose tissue thickness by echocardiography, considered as a marker of abdominal visceral adipose tissue in Metabolic Syndrome and demonstrated to have a correlation with various metabolic disturbances, is a parameter that has never been studied before in such a disease like PCOS having long term metabolic complications. In this study, epicardial adipose tissue thickness of PCOS patients was determined by echocardiography; the measurements were compared with healthy controls and its relationship to metabolic syndrome parameter was assessed. In cases with PCOS, mean epicardial adipose tissue thickness was found to be 6,95 ± 1,84 mm in parasternal long axis and 6,76 ± 1,99 mm in parasternal short axis. A statistically significant difference was detected among epicardial adipose tissue thickness between patients and the control group (p<0,05). However, neither positive nor negative correlations was detected between any cardiac or metabolic risk parameters and epicardial adipose tissue thickness. On the other hand; epicardial adipose tissue, as an independent risk factor, was found to be thicker in PCOS patients. Further studies including more patients with broad clinical profiles are needed to assess the importance of epicardial adipose tissue in PCOS patients.