Poor fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in myocardial viability study in nondiabetic Friedreich's ataxia patient.

A 48-year-old man, a known case of Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) underwent cardiac fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography -computed tomography (PET/CT) for evaluation of myocardial viability. Tetrofosmin images showed an enlarged left ventricular cavity with small mid and basal inferior and apical infarct global hypokinesia with ejection fraction of 39%. Fluorodeoxyglucose images showed poor quality myocardial images. Friedreich's ataxia is associated with a high incidence of diabetes mellitus. Non-diabetic patients with Friedreich's ataxia have insulin resistance. This is associated with a reduction in the affinity of insulin receptors and membrane abnormality that alters the binding function of the insulin receptor.