Epicardial fat tissue thickness is correlated with diminished levels of co-enzyme Q10, a major antioxidant molecule among hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVES: Accelerated atherosclerosis is the major cause of mortality in patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is a new risk factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between plasma coenzyme Q10 levels (Co-Q10) which is a potent physiologic antioxidant and EFT thickness in HD patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Seventy one chronic HD patients and 65 age and sex matched healthy individuals were included in the study. Plasma Co-Q10 levels were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurements. EFT was measured by transthoracic echocardiograpy (TTE) performed with a VIVID 7 instrument. RESULTS: Plasma Co-Q10 levels (1.36±0.43 vs 2.53±0.55, p<0.001) were significantly lower in HD patients compared to controls. EFT was significantly increased in HD patients compared to healthy controls (6.53±1.01 vs. 5.79±1.06 mm respectively, p<0.001). Correlation analysis showed that plasma Co-Q10 levels were inversely correlated with EFT (r=-0.263, p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to define independent determinants of EFT in HD patients. According to linear regression analysis, age, BMI, total cholesterol and Co-Q10 levels were found to be independent predictors of EFT (adjusted r(2)=0.38, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that EFT thickness was significantly higher among HD patients compared to healthy controls. In addition; this study was the first to demonstrate an inverse correlation between EFT thickness and Co-Q10 levels in this patient population.