title: Quantification of [18F]-FDG uptake in atherosclerotic plaque: impact of renal function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Impaired renal function causes both increased and prolonged tracer availability in the blood-pool which might result in increased tracer accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate a possible correlation between the intensity of tracer uptake in atherosclerotic lesions and renal function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 50 [18F]-FDG scans were visually evaluated for tracer uptake in vessel wall alterations. Lesions were analyzed semiquantitatively by determining the blood-pool standardized uptake values (SUV(blood-pool)s), maximum SUVs (SUV(max)s), and the target-to-background ratio (TBR). These parameters were tested for correlation with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both SUV(blood-pool)s (r(s) = -0.32, p = 0.03) and SUV(max)s for [18F]-FDG (r(s) = -0.50, p < 0.0001) showed a significant negative correlation with eGFR. TBRs for [18F]-FDG demonstrated a significant positive correlation with eGFRs (r(s) = 0.21, p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that both intravascular tracer availability (SUV(blood-pool)) and intralesional tracer uptake (SUV(max)) are influenced by renal function. Calculation of TBR to account for that effect may result in overcorrection in case of [(18)F]-FDG. Renal insufficiency or subclinical changes in renal function have to be considered as a confounding factor in PET of atherosclerotic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. t.derlin@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Derlin
authors.forename: Christian R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Habermann
authors.forename: Jasmin D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hahne
authors.forename: Ivayla
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Apostolova
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klutmann
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mester
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buchert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18