Using Imaging for Early Intervention After a Heart Attack

Researchers from Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technical University of Munich, Germany have found that a new radiotracer can effectively image fibroblast activation after a heart attack and identify a window of time during which cardiac fibrosis can be prevented and the disease course altered. The team used a novel 68Ga-labeled fibroblast activation protein (FAP) inhibitor and research regarding the technique was published in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine The preclinical study included 20 rats subjected to myocardial infarction by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, as well as four sham-operated rats that underwent the same procedure except for the ligation. In vivo imaging with 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET was performed at one, three, six, 14, 23, and 30 days after the myocardial infarction and with 18F-FDG three days after myocardial infarction. Dynamic 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET and blocking studies were performed on the myocardial infarction rats on day seven. Ex vivo imaging, autoradiography, histologic studies and immunofluorescence staining were also conducted to validate the results of in vivo imaging. Researchers found that uptake of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET peaked six days after ligation and decreased rapidly to the background level by two weeks after infarction. Uptake accumulated mainly at the border zone of the infarcted myocardium, with high contrast and minimal uptake in normal myocardium. Minimal uptake was noted in rats that received ...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Cardiovascular Imaging Source Type: news