Multiparametric assessment of left atrial remodeling using 18F-FDG PET/CT cardiac imaging: A pilot study

Michael Ghannam, Hong Jun Yun, Edward P. Ficaro, Hamid Ghanbari, John J. Lazarus, Matthew Konerman, Ravi V. Shah, Richard Weinberg, James R. Corbett, Hakan Oral, Venkatesh L. Murthy*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Left atrial (LA) remodeling is associated with structural, electric, and metabolic LA changes. Integrated evaluation of these features in vivo is lacking. Methods: Patients undergoing 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp were classified into sinus rhythm (SR), paroxysmal AF (PAF), and persistent AF (PerAF). The LA was semiautomatically segmented, and global FDG uptake was quantified using standardized uptake values (SUVmax and SUVmean) in gated, attenuation-corrected images and normalized to LA blood pool activity. Regression was used to relate FDG data to AF burden and critical patient factors. Continuous variables were compared using t-tests or Mann-Whitney tests. Results: 117 patients were included (76% men, age 66.4 ± 11.0, ejection fraction (EF) 25[22-35]%) including those with SR (n = 48), PAF (n = 55), and PerAF (n = 14). Patients with any AF had increased SUVmean (2.3[1.5-2.4] vs 2.0[1.5-2.5], P = 0.006), SUVmax (4.4[2.8-6.7] vs 3.2[2.3-4.3], P < 0.001), uptake coefficient of variation (CoV) 0.28[0.22-0.40] vs 0.25[0.2-0.33], P < 0.001), and hypometabolic scar (32%[14%-53%] vs 16.5%[0%-38.5%], P = 0.01). AF burden correlated with increased SUVmean, SUVmax, CoV, and scar independent of age, gender, EF, or LA size (P < 0.03 for all). Conclusions: LA structure and metabolism can be assessed using FDG PET/CT. Greater AF burden correlates with the increased LA metabolism and scar.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1547-1562
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Nuclear Cardiology
Volume27
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2020

Keywords

  • Metabolic
  • PET
  • cardiomyopathy
  • echo

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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