Vascular inflammation evaluated by [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography is associated with the metabolic syndrome

Objectives We investigated factors for carotid artery inflammation by [F-118]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). Background Inflammation is present in some atherosclerotic plaques. The FDG-PET is capable of identifying and quantifying vascular inflammation within atherosclerotic plaques. Methods The FDG-PET imaging was performed in 216 consecutive patients (63 9 years, men:women 147:69) for cancer screening. Vascular inflammation in carotid atherosclerosis was quantified by measuring the standardized uptake value (SUV) of FDG into the artery. Results Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed significant relationships between SUV and waist circumference (p < 0.001), hypertensive medication (p < 0.001), carotid intima-media thickness (p < 0.001), high-density Lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.01, inversely), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (p < 0.05), or high sensitivity C-reactive protein (p < 0.05). Age- and gender-adjusted SUV of FOG was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in proportion to the accumulation of the number of the components of the metabolic syndrome. Thus, the metabolic syndrome was associated with increased FOG uptake in carotid atherosclerosis. Conclusions Our present study may suggest that the metabolic syndrome is associated with inflammation in carotid atherosclerosis.