FDG atrial uptake is associated with an increased prevalence of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

Purpose Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with an increased risk of stroke. Indeed, silent AF is frequently identified in unexplained ischemic stroke. 18F-FDG-PET/CT is a powerful tool for assessing myocardial metabolic shift and inflammation, both potentially at stake in AF. This case–control study investigated whether AF could promote FDG uptake in atria after physiological myocardial glucose uptake suppression, and the potential relationship between FDG atrial uptake and prevalence of stroke.