Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), the visceral fat of de myocardium, has been positively related to insulin resistance (IR), cardiovascular risk and the left ventricular myocardial mass. Whether EAT thickness in acromegaly is mediated by GH/IGF-1, IR or other factors remains to be elucidated.

Objective: The aims of this study were: 1) To investigate whether EAT in patients with ACRO is linked to IR and pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory related cytokines, 2) To examine whether EAT is related to circulating GH/IGF-1 and its metabolic signature: low serum levels of branched amino acid (BCAAs). 3) To assess whether EAT is related to myocardial hypertrophy.

Methods: Thirty patients with acromegaly were included in the study. EAT andventricular myocardial masswere assessed by echocardiography. Circulating levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, glucose and insulin were measured using commercial kits. Serum BCAAs were assessed by 1-H-MR.

Results: We analysed 30 patients: 5 were active despite medical treatment, 14 controlled and 11 in remission. EAT was positively associated with HOMA-IR (rho: 0.40, p:0.03)). Conversely adiponectin, was negatively correlated (rho: –0.43 p: 0.02). We did not find any relationship between EAT and GH/, IGF-1 or BCAAs. In addition, EAT was unrelated to myocardial mass.

Conclusion: EAT positively correlated with HOMA-IR and negatively with adiponectin. This relationship seems not to be mediated by GH/IGF-1 or BCAAs. Our results suggest that other factors unrelated to GH/IGF-1 but directly related to IR are the main responsible of the excess of EAT observed in patients with acromegaly.