A possible link between increased metabolic activity of fat tissue and aortic wall inflammation in subjects with COPD. A retrospective 18F-FDG-PET/CT pilot study

SummaryBackgroundFat tissue, and particularly visceral fat, is known to play a role in low grade systemic inflammation in COPD, and is likely to contribute to the excess cardiovascular comorbidity in COPD. Therefore, we aimed to study 18FDG-PET-assessed inflammation of the aorta and the (visceral) fat, and evaluate its interrelations and differences in subjects with and without COPD.MethodsWe retrospectively identified 42 patients (71% male, 48% current smokers, mean age 66.6 ± 8.3 years, mean BMI 25.1 ± 4.3 kg/m2), who underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT for suspected early stage bronchus carcinoma. COPD-diagnosis was based on spirometry and defined as FEV1/FVC