Imaging of skeletal muscle metabolism in heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is associated with exercise intolerance and insulin resistance. Imaging of skeletal muscle has shown that HF is accompanied by defects in muscle oxidative and glucose metabolism, together with a loss in muscle mass and remarkable intramuscular fat infiltration. These features are related to the degree of exercise intolerance and are partially restored by chronic exercise training. They are also typically present in conditions that predispose to the development of HF, indicating that skeletal muscle should be an early prevention target.