Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is significantly associated with coronary artery stenosis and valvular dysfunction. And epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) can secrete inflammatory factors and human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL) are widely used as indicators of inflammation. There is now increasing evidence of a strong link between MAC and the inflammatory response. This study aims to investigate the effects of EAT thickness and HNL in MAC. DESIGN: A cross-sectional approach was used in this study. SETTING: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University. PARTICIPANTS: The included patients was classified into a calcification group (MAC group) and a control group based on the presence or absence of MAC on echocardiography. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The clinical data, HNL, EAT thickness of the two groups were measured, collected and analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent risk factors for MAC and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the effectiveness of EAT thickness and HNL in diagnosing MAC. RESULTS: Patients in the MAC group had significantly higher basal and apical EAT thickness and HNL level than those in the control group. Basal EAT thickness was independently associated with MAC (OR = 2.003, 95 % CI = 1.474-2.721, P < 0.001). The AUC for basal EAT thickness to predict MAC was 0.880. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest EAT thickness and HNL were significantly associated with MAC, and basal EAT thickness near the right coronary artery was independently associated with MAC and had a high predictive value for MAC.