Role of FDG-PET/CT in Assessing the Correlation Between Blood Pressure and Myocardial Metabolic Uptake

Abstract

<strong><em>Objective(s):</em></strong> We aimed to assess the association between blood pressure and LV myocardial uptake of FDG, hypothesizing that subjects with raised blood pressure would have higher FDG uptake. <strong><em>Methods: </em></strong>We analyzed 86 healthy controls who underwent PET/CT imaging 180 minutes following FDG (4 MBq/Kg) administration. LV myocardial analysis was performed on axial sections using standard operator guided computer software (OsiriX MD). The average LV myocardial SUV_mean (MSUV_mean) was calculated for each subject. Subjects were assessed according to the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines for high blood pressure in adults. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was calculated for each patient. Regression models were employed for statistical analysis. <strong><em>R</em></strong><strong><em>esults</em></strong><em>: </em>The association of MSUV_mean was more pronounced with DP (r=0.32, p=0.003) than SP (r=0.28, p=0.010); MABP was comparable (r=0.33, p=0.002). Correlations of MSUV_mean with categorized BPs were: normal SP (r=0.27, p=0.010), elevated SP (r=0.28, p=0.009), stage 1 SP (r=0.27, p=0.010), stage 2 SP (r=0.28, p=0.008); normal DP (r=0.33, p=0.001), stage 1 DP (r=0.34, p=0.001), stage 2 DP (r=0.35, p=0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated DP (p=0.006), MABP (p=0.007), and SP (0.026). <strong><em>Conclusion: </em></strong>LV myocardial FDG uptake was higher in subjects with elevated blood pressure and correlated positively with SBP and in particular DBP and MABP.