Incidence of abnormal positron emission tomography in patients with unexplained cardiomyopathy and ventricular arrhythmias: The potential role of occult inflammation in arrhythmogenesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The incidence of myocardial inflammation in patients with unexplained cardiomyopathy referred for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) is unknown.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to report fasting positron emission tomographic (PET) scan findings in consecutive patients referred with unexplained cardiomyopathy and VA.

Methods

Fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (18-FDG) PET/computed tomographic (CT) scans with a >16-hour fasting protocol were prospectively ordered for patients referred for VA and unexplained cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction <55%). Patients with focal myocardial FDG uptake were labeled as arrhythmogenic inflammatory cardiomyopathy (AIC) and classified into 4 groups based on the presence of lymph node uptake (AIC+) and perfusion abnormalities

SUBMITTER: Tung R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4656080 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature