title: Impact of obesity and acquisition protocol on (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine indexes of cardiac sympathetic innervation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to assess the impact of obesity and acquisition protocol on (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) indexes of cardiac sympathetic innervation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with heart failure (HF) (38 men, age 58±15 years) underwent (123)I-MIBG cardiac imaging. Of these patients, 10 were obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m(2)]. 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 (123)I-MIBG heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratios and washout rate were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In overall study population, early and late (123)I-MIBG H/M ratios and washout rate were comparable between supine- and prone-position acquisitions. Obese patients had a lower early and late (123)I-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 (123)I-MIBG indexes of cardiac sympathetic innervation. Prone-position did not change early and late (123)I-MIBG H/M ratios and washout rate compared to supine position both in obese and non-obese HF patients.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piscopo
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boemio
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Matteis
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara Maria Delle Acque
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Giorgio
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petretta
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Via De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy ; 2 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 3 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuocolo
keywords: Metaiodobenzylguanidine cardiac imaging (MIBG cardiac imaging); heart-to-mediastinum ratios (H/M ratios); obesity; prone-position acquisition; washout rate