5965Perimatrial inflammation measured by fluoine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography to predict new-onset atrial fibrillation

Background Fluoine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is a useful modality of inflammatory disease. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) contains abundant ganglionated plexi, therefore EAT inflammation may cause atrial arrhythmia, such as atrial premature contraction (APC) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Previous studies have shown that inflammatory activity of EAT has relation to the presence of AF. However, it is unknown whether EAT inflammation contributes to the occurrence of AF. Methods Out of 20720 examinees who underwent FDG-PET/CT for screening of cancer in the years 2012–2018, 151 (aged 65.6±12.0 years old, 62 females) had ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (Holter ECG) within a year and non-detection of AF. Standardized uptake value (SUV) was measured in fat adjacent to roof of left atrium (ROOF), atrioventricular groove (AV), left main coronary artery (LMT), and right ventricular blood pool (RV). In order to correct for blood pool activity, SUV of ROOF, AV, and LMT were divided by SUV of RV respectively, yielding target-to-background ratio (TBR). As regards to arterial inflammation, measurements were performed with SUV in ascending aorta (A-Ao) and in superior vena cava (SVC) as blood pool. In the same way, SUV of A-Ao was divided by SUV of SVC, yielding TBR. Results According to Holter ECG, APC≥100 beats per day was seen in 60 patients (Group A), but not in the other 91 (Group B). In Group A, TBR of ROOF, AV, and LMT were all significantly higher than Group B (p Conclusions Although EAT inflammation evaluated by SUV is related to frequent APCs, only in fat adjacent to roof of left atrium is associated with and predicts future occurrence of AF. Arterial inflammation measured by SUV has no relation to atrial arrhythmia.