Obesity, metabolic dysfunction linked to BPE in premenopausal women

A recent study has established the association of increased background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) with obesity, insulin resistance, leptin, and adiponectin in premenopausal women who are at high risk of breast cancer.

BPE demonstrated a positive correlation with body mass index (BMI; r, 0.69; p<0.001). BPE was higher in participants with obesity than those without (404.9 vs 261.8 cm²; Δ, 143.1 cm², 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 49.5‒236.7; p=0.003).

In addition, BPE was positively associated with total body fat mass (r, 0.68; p<0.001), body fat percentage (r, 0.64; p<0.001), visceral adipose tissue area (r, 0.65; p<0.001), subcutaneous adipose tissue area (r, 0.60; p<0.001), insulin (r, 0.59; p<0.001), glucose (r, 0.35; p=0.011), homeostatic model of insulin resistance (r, 0.62; p<0.001), and leptin (r, 0.60; p<0.001).

On the other hand, adiponectin (r, ‒0.44; p<0.001) showed a negative association with BPE, while plasma biomarkers of inflammation and lipids and urinary sex hormones did not significantly correlate with BPE.

Fifty-nine premenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer participated in this study. Obesity was characterized by BMI ≥30 kg/m². Metabolic parameters explored were as follows: dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-quantified body composition, plasma biomarkers of insulin resistance, adipokines, inflammation, lipids, and urinary sex hormones.

Finally, the authors assessed BPE using computerized algorithms on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.