Radwa A. Noureldin MD, MSc, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Ronald Ouwerkerk PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Roderic Ivan Pettigrew MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ahmed Medhat Gharib MBChB, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To quantify amount of fat accumulated in the heart using high field MRH1 and to determine its relationship to metabolic lipid profile and other fat depots in the human body.

After IRB approval, ninety HIPPA-compliant subjects, not known to have cardiac disease, underwent 1H-MRS using wide bore 3T scanner. B0 shimming parameters were optimized with a rapid B0 mapping method. MRS of heart was performed using ECG gated PRESS breath navigated technique, TR/TE =1R-R/30ms. PRESS voxel was located in the septum at isovolumic phase of diastole planned on a 4-chamber SSFP with saturation slabs across subcutaneous and pericardial fat. The same sequence was used for musculoskeletal 1H-MR; PRESS voxel targeting the vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior and soleus muscles. Fat was quantified with Amares/MRUI and related to water in unsuppressed spectra. Axial images of the heart were obtained at end systole for pericardial fat quantification. Axial T1 weighted images at L4-L5 level were acquired for abdominal fat measurement. All subjects had lipid profile assessment including serum cholesterol, HDL, LDL and serum triglycerides and were obtained within one month of the scan.

Seventy-seven MRS were successfully analyzed, mean age 51±12 years, 54% were women, and 69% were white. BMI ranged from 19.4 to 54.8. Myocardial fat content ranged from 0.03 to 2.81%, and showed positive correlation with BMI, waist circumference, musculoskeletal, pericardial, visceral and abdominal fat, as well as triglycerides (r= 0.28, 0.37,0.31, 0.28, 0.29, 0.26, 0.24; p <0.05) respectively. However, myocardial fat was not correlated with total cholesterol, HDL, LDL or free fatty acids.

1H-MR spectroscopy quantifies ectopic fat deposition in the heart. In population with no cardiac disease, myocardial steatosis is correlated with high circulating triglycerides, musculoskeletal fat other fat depots in the human body.

1H-MR spectroscopy is an important tool to investigate and monitor the effects of circulating serum lipids on fat metabolism and its accumulation within cardiac muscle and other ectopic fat depots.

Noureldin, R, Ouwerkerk, R, Pettigrew, R, Gharib, A, 3T 1H-MR Spectroscopy of Myocardial Steatosis: Relationship to Fat Depots throughout the Body.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13025581.html