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Morphological and Functional Assessment of the Right Ventricle Using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Relation between right ventricular function and increased right ventricular [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in
Lisa M Mielniczuk1, David Birnie, Maria C Ziadi
1Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada. lmielniczuk@ottawaheart.ca
Circulation. Cardiovascular Imaging
|November 9, 2010
Summary
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in heart failure is linked to increased glucose metabolism, measured by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography. This RV FDG uptake may correlate with the severity of RV dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Metabolic Imaging
Background:
- Heart failure significantly impacts cardiac metabolism, particularly in the left ventricle.
- Cardiac metabolism in the right ventricle (RV) and its relationship to RV function remain less understood.
- Metabolic modulation presents a potential therapeutic avenue for heart failure management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify right ventricular (RV) glucose metabolism using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in heart failure patients.
- To investigate the relationship between RV metabolic activity (FDG uptake) and RV function.
- To explore correlations between RV FDG uptake and other cardiac parameters.
Main Methods:
- [18F]FDG PET imaging was performed on 68 heart failure patients to measure RV FDG uptake (Standardized Uptake Value).
- RV and left ventricular (LV) ejection fractions were assessed using equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography.
- RV to LV FDG uptake ratios were calculated to normalize for systemic glucose uptake.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse correlation was observed between RV ejection fraction and RV/LV FDG uptake ratio (r=-0.40 to -0.43, P<0.001).
- This association persisted in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (r=-0.37, P=0.04) and after partial-volume correction (r=-0.68, P<0.001).
- RV FDG uptake showed a weak relation to RV systolic pressure but was not associated with LV size, function, or FDG uptake.
Conclusions:
- Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in heart failure is associated with increased RV glucose metabolism.
- The degree of RV [18F]FDG uptake may serve as an indicator of RV dysfunction severity.
- Cardiac metabolic imaging offers insights into RV pathophysiology in heart failure.
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