Integrated backscatter as a fibrosis marker in the metabolic syndrome: association with biochemical evidence of fibrosis and left ventricular dysfunction

Myocardial echodensity is a stronger correlate of LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction in MS, than circulating procollagen peptides. Both fibrosis and LV function abnormalities are increased at a higher waist-to-hip ratio, which might provide a rationale for the implementation of intensified therapy in this subset of patients.