Epicardial fat ectopy in women with different estradiol levels

Objective. To establish the early risk factors of metabolic syndrome in women with decreased ovarian reserve, premature and early menopause; to estimate the thickness of epicardial fat and the levels of estradiol and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) in women with early estrogen deficiency and in control subjects without estrogen deficiency, to evaluate the effect of estrogen replacement hormone therapy on epicardial fat thickness and the change of arterial pressure (BP) parameters.

Material and Methods. Group 1 (n=12) included patients with co-preserved menstrual cycle and AMH >1 ng/ml, Group 2 (n=10) included patients with preserved menstrual cycle and AMH <1 ng/ml, Group 3 (n=12) included patients with premature menopause, Group 4 (n=13) included patients with early menopause. The level of the studied parameters in blood serum was determined by immunochemiluminescence assay. Epicardial fat thickness was determined on VIVID E90 machine in 3 cardiac cycles with subsequent calculation of the mean value.

Results. An increase in epicardial fat thickness was detected in Groups 2–4 with low estradiol levels compared to group 1 (p=0.01). Patients with normal body mass index and with estrogen deficiency also show increased epicardial fat thickness.