Original Article


Impact of obesity and acquisition protocol on 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine indexes of cardiac sympathetic innervation

Teresa Pellegrino, Valentina Piscopo, Antonio Boemio, Barbara Russo, Gianluca De Matteis, Sara Pellegrino, Sara Maria delle Acque Giorgio, Manuela Amato, Mario Petretta, Alberto Cuocolo

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to assess the impact of obesity and acquisition protocol on 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) indexes of cardiac sympathetic innervation.
Methods: Forty-five patients with heart failure (HF) (38 men, age 58±15 years) underwent 123I-MIBG cardiac imaging. Of these patients, 10 were obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2]. Ten-minute planar images of the thorax in anterior view were performed 15 minutes (“early” image) and 3 hours and 50 minutes (“late” image) after tracer administration in both supine- and prone-position. Early and late 123I-MIBG heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratios and washout rate were computed.
Results: In overall study population, early and late 123I-MIBG H/M ratios and washout rate were comparable between supine- and prone-position acquisitions. Obese patients had a lower early and late 123I-MIBG H/M ratios both in supine (P<0.01) and prone (P<0.05) positions compared to non-obese subjects.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that in HF patients, obesity has a significant impact on 123I-MIBG indexes of cardiac sympathetic innervation. Prone-position did not change early and late 123I-MIBG H/M ratios and washout rate compared to supine position both in obese and non-obese HF patients.

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