99mTc-HFAPi imaging identifies early myocardial fibrosis in the hypertensive heart.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore whether 99mTc-radiolabeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (99mTc-HFAPi) imaging can detect early myocardial fibrosis in the hypertensive heart. METHODS: In the experimental model, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs) were randomly divided into three groups (8, 16, and 28 weeks). The animals underwent 99mTc-HFAPi imaging and echocardiography. Autoradiography and histological analyses were performed in the left ventricle. The mRNA and protein expression level of the fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and collagen I were measured using quantitative PCR and western blot. In the clinical investigation, a total of 106 patients with essential hypertension and 20 gender-matched healthy controls underwent 99mTc-HFAPi imaging and echocardiography. RESULTS: In-vivo and in-vitro autographic images demonstrated diffusely enhanced 99mTc-HFAPi uptake in the SHR heart starting at week 8, before irreversible collagen deposition. The mRNA and protein levels of FAP in SHRs began to increase from week 8, whereas changes in collagen I levels were not detected until week 28. In the clinical investigation, even in hypertensive patients with normal diastolic indicators, normal left ventricular geometry, and normal global longitudinal strain (GLS), the prevalence of increased 99mTc-HFAPi uptake reached 34, 41, and 20%, respectively, indicating that early fibrogenesis precedes structural and functional myocardial abnormalities. CONCLUSION: In hypertension, 99mTc-HFAPi imaging can detect early fibrotic process before myocardial functional and structural changes.

Myocardial Activity at 18F-FAPI PET/CT and Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background Myocardial fibrosis contributes to adverse cardiovascular events in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Purpose To explore the characteristics of cardiac fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT imaging and its relationship with the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in HCM. Materials and Methods In this prospective study from July 2021 to January 2022, participants with HCM and healthy control participants underwent cardiac fluorine 18 (18F)-labeled FAPI PET/CT imaging. Myocardial FAPI activity was quantified as intensity (target-to-background uptake ratio), extent (the percent of FAPI-avid myocardium of the left ventricle [LV]), and amount (the percent of FAPI-avid myocardium of LV × target-to-background ratio). Regional wall thickness was analyzed at cardiac MRI. The 5-year SCD risk score was calculated from the 2014 European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to identify factors related to the FAPI amount. The correlation between FAPI amount and 5-year SCD risk was explored. Results Fifty study participants with HCM (mean age, 43 years ± 13 [SD]; 32 men) and 22 healthy control participants (mean age, 45 years ± 17; 14 men) were included. All participants with HCM had intense and inhomogeneous cardiac FAPI activity in the LV myocardium that was higher than that in healthy control participants (median target-to-background ratio, 8.8 vs 2.1, respectively; P < .001). In HCM, more segments with FAPI activity were detected than the number of hypertrophic segments (median, 14 vs five, respectively; P < .001); 84% of nonhypertrophic segments showed FAPI activity. Log-transformed FAPI amount had a positive relationship with log-transformed N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide, high-sensitive troponin I, and left atrial diameter and a negative relationship with LV ejection fraction z-score. Degree of FAPI activity positively correlated with the 5-year SCD risk score (r = 0.32; P = .03). Conclusion Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT imaging indicated intense and heterogeneous activity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and FAPI uptake was associated with 5-year risk of sudden cardiac death. © RSNA, 2022 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

99mTc-sestamibi and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose imaging in patients with cardiogenic shock: A pilot study.

Background: Whether perfusion/metabolism imaging differs between matched ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with and without cardiogenic shock (CS) remains unknown. Methods: Seventeen STEMI patients with CS (13 men, 60 ± 12 years) and 16 matched STEMI patients without CS (15 men, 54 ± 15 years) were prospectively recruited. All patients underwent baseline 99mTc-sestamibi/18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging and echocardiography 6 ± 2 days post-infarction. Nine patients with CS and seven without CS had repeated imaging 98 ± 7 days post-infarction. The total perfusion deficit (TPD) and total FDG uptake deficit (TFD) were calculated to assess the percentages of impaired perfusion and metabolism over the left ventricle. Patients were followed up for 337 days (213-505 days) and the major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded. Results: TPD was greater in patient with CS and was independently related to the presence of CS (OR: 4.36, p = 0.013). Both acute- and convalescent TFD were inversely related to the improvement ratio of LVEF (r-values: -0.62, -0.73; both p < 0.05). MACE occurred in 16 patients (10 CS and 6 non-CS), and acute TFD was predictive of MACE in those with CS (HR: 2.06, p = 0.038). Conclusion: In this pilot study, we demonstrated that STEMI patients with CS had a significantly increased TPD, which was relevant to the presence of CS. Acute TFD was associated with improvement in LVEF, and was predictive of MACE in patients with CS.

Fibroblast activation protein imaging in reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the correlation of 18F-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and to investigate the value of FAPI imaging in predicting cardiac functional recovery, as well as the correlation between FAPI activity and circulating fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and inflammatory biomarkers. METHODS: Fourteen first-time STEMI patients (11 men, mean age: 62 ± 11 years) after PPCI and 14 gender-matched healthy volunteers (10 men, mean age: 50 ± 14 years) who had completed FAPI imaging and blood sample collection were prospectively recruited. All patients underwent baseline FAPI imaging (6 ± 2 days post-MI) and CMR (8 ± 2 days post-MI). Ten patients had follow-up CMR (84 ± 4 days post-MI). Myocardial FAPI activity was analyzed for extent (the percentage of FAPI uptake volume over the left ventricular volume, FAPI%), intensity (target-to-background uptake ratio, TBRmax), and amount (FAPI% × TBRmax). Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), extracellular volume (ECV), microvascular obstruction (MVO), and cardiac function from CMR imaging were analyzed. Blood samples obtained on the day of FAPI imaging were used to assess circulating FAP, TGF-ß1, TNF-α, IL-6, and hsCRP in STEMI patients and controls. RESULTS: Localized but inhomogeneous FAPI uptake was observed in STEMI patients, which was larger than the edematous and infarcted myocardium, whereas no uptake was detected in controls. The MVO area showed lower FAPI uptake compared with the surrounding myocardium. FAPI activity was associated with the myocardial injury biomarkers T2WI, LGE, and ECV at both per-patient and per-segment levels (all p < 0.05), but was not associated with circulating FAP, TGF-ß1, TNF-α, IL-6, or hsCRP. Among the CMR parameters, T2WI had the greatest correlation coefficient with both FAPI% and FAPI% × TBRmax. Baseline TBRmax was inversely correlated with the follow-up left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = - 0.73, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: FAPI imaging detects more involved myocardium than CMR in reperfused STEMI, and is associated with myocardial damage and follow-up LVEF.

Prognostic value of cardiac inflammation in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT study.

BACKGROUND: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging is used to detect cardiac inflammation and predict functional outcome in acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, data on the correlation of post-MI acute cardiac inflammation evaluated by 18F-FDG imaging and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) are limited. Therefore, we sought to explore the prognostic value of cardiac 18F-FDG imaging in patients with acute ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). METHODS: Thirty-six patients with STEMI underwent 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) 5 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. 18F-FDG activity in infarcted and remote regions, as well as peri-coronary adipose tissue (PCAT), were measured and expressed as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax). Patients were followed to determine the occurrence of MACE. RESULTS: The infarcted myocardium had a higher 18F-FDG intensity than the remote area. Moreover, the PCAT of culprit coronary arteries showed a higher 18F-FDG uptake than that of non-culprit arteries. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that increased SUVmax of PCAT [HR 5.198; 95% CI (1.058, 25.537), P = .042] was independently associated with a higher risk of MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced PCAT activity after acute MI is related to the occurrence of MACE, and 18F-FDG PET/CT plays a promising role in providing prognostic information in patients with STEMI.

Imaging of cardiac fibroblast activation in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the association of cardiac fibroblast activation with clinical parameters and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging parameters in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). METHODS: Thirteen CTEPH patients were prospectively enrolled. All of the patients underwent cardiac 68Gallium-labelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (68 Ga-FAPI-04)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), right heart catheterisation, and echocardiography, and 11 of them additionally underwent CMR. Thirteen control subjects were selected to establish the normal range of cardiac 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake. Cardiac 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake higher than that in the blood pool was defined as abnormal. The global and segmental maximum standardised uptake values (SUVmax) of the right ventricle (RV) were measured and further expressed as target-to-background ratio (TBRRV) with left ventricular lateral wall activity as background. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was visually evaluated, and native-T1 times, enhanced-T1 times, and extracellular volume (ECV) were quantitatively measured. RESULTS: Ten CTEPH patients (77%) had abnormal 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake in RV, mainly located in the free wall, which was significantly higher than that in controls (TBRRV: 2.4 ± 0.9 vs 1.0 ± 0.1, P < 0.001). The TBRRV correlated positively with the thickness of RV wall (r = 0.815, P = 0.001) and inversely with RV fraction area change (RVFAC) (r = - 0.804, P = 0.001) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (r = - 0.678, P = 0.011). No correlation was found between 68 Ga-FAPI-04 activity and CMR imaging parameters. CONCLUSION: Fibroblast activation in CTEPH, measured by 68 Ga-FAPI-04 imaging, is mainly localised in the RV free wall. Enhanced fibroblast activation reflects the thickening of the RV wall and decreased RV contractile function.

Value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the evaluation of pulmonary artery activity in patients with Takayasu's arteritis.

AIMS: To explore the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the detection of active pulmonary artery (PA) lesions in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA). METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive TA patients with PA involvement were prospectively recruited. Clinical activity was assessed according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria. CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) or magnetic resonance pulmonary angiography was performed for evaluation of vascular structural characteristics, and mural thickening was considered as radiologically active. A vascular segment with 18F-FDG uptake ≥ liver was considered as PET-active. A total of 38 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed in 29 patients. In terms of disease activity, the sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET/CT did not significantly differ from radiological imaging (71.4% vs. 92.9%, P = 0.250), but 18F-FDG PET/CT had higher specificity (91.7% vs. 37.5%, P = 0.001) and accuracy (84.2% vs. 57.9%, P = 0.022). Although the majority of PET-active PA segments (54.9%) showed mural thickening, 14 PA segments with normal structure were also PET-active. 18F-FDG activity did not significantly differ between the PA and aorta in clinically active patients. In addition, 18F-FDG activity of the PA was positively correlated with inflammatory markers. Changes in 18F-FDG activity in PA during follow-up reflected therapeutic effects. CONCLUSION: 18F-FDG PET/CT can effectively evaluate PA activity in TA patients, and its diagnostic performance is superior to radiological imaging. The 18F-FDG activity of PA shows a good correlation with clinical disease status and inflammatory markers and can be used to monitor therapeutic effects.

99mTc-3SPboroxime: A neutral 99mTc(III) radiotracer with high heart uptake and long myocardial retention.

BACKGROUND: 99mTc-3SPboroxime is a 99mTc(III) complex with high initial heart uptake comparable to that of 99mTc-Teboroxime, but with significantly longer myocardial retention in Sprague-Dawley rats. This study was performed to demonstrate its feasibility on myocardial perfusion imaging and myocardial blood flow quantification in swine models. METHODS: Dynamic single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies with 99mTc-3SPboroxime were performed in normal (with/without dipyridamole, n = 9) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) swine (n = 3) in comparison with 99mTc-Teboroxime and 99mTc-Sestamibi. List-mode acquisitions were immediately started after injection and continued for 15 minutes. Regions of interest were drawn on heart (infarct and remote areas of AMI swine) and liver to generate time activity curves. Heart/liver and infarct/remote radioactivity ratios were calculated. One-tissue compartment model was implemented to obtain K1 and K2 values. RESULTS: The initial heart uptake of 99mTc-3SPboroxime was close to that of 99mTc-Teboroxime, but higher than that of 99mTc-Sestamibi. 99mTc-3SPboroxime had a myocardial retention longer than that of 99mTc-Teboroxime. The heart/liver ratio of 99mTc-3SPboroxime was higher than that of 99mTc-Teboroxime at later stage (13-15 minutes post-injection). The K1 value of 99mTc-3SPboroxime was much higher than that of 99mTc-Sestamibi, and the K2 value was significantly lower than that of 99mTc-Teboroxime both at rest and dipyridamole stress (rest K1: 0.63 ± 0.11 vs 0.40 ± 0.04 mL·min-1·g-1, P = 0.027; stress K1: 0.89 ± 0.05 vs 0.54 ± 0.08 mL·min-1·g-1, P = 0.031; rest K2: 0.22 ± 0.04 vs 0.33 ± 0.11 mL·min-1·g-1, P = 0.003; stress K2: 0.31 ± 0.03 vs 0.60 ± 0.30 mL·min-1·g-1, P = 0.047). High quality SPECT images could be obtained in any of the 5 minutes windows over the first 15 minutes after injection of 99mTc-3SPboroxime in normal and AMI swine models. Apical and anterior perfusion defects were clearly visualized in AMI swine. CONCLUSION: 99mTc-3SPboroxime is a promising radiotracer for future clinical translation considering its heart uptake, heart/liver ratio and SPECT image quality, as well as the advantage over 99mTc-Sestamibi in the definition of stress flow.

Functional significance of post-myocardial infarction inflammation evaluated by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose imaging in swine model.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between post-myocardial infarction (MI) inflammation and left ventricular (LV) remodeling in a swine model by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging. METHODS: MI was induced in swine by balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. A series of FDG positron emission tomography (PET) images were taken within 2 weeks post-MI, employing a comprehensive strategy to suppress the physiological uptake of cardiomyocytes. Echocardiography was applied to evaluate LV volume, global and regional function. CD68+ macrophage and glucose transporters (GLUT-1, -3 and -4) were investigated by immunostaining. RESULTS: The physiological uptake of myocardium was adequately suppressed in 92.3% of PET scans verified by visual analysis, which was further confirmed by the minimal expression of myocardial GLUT-4. Higher FDG uptake was observed in the infarct than in the remote area and persisted within the observational period of 2 weeks. The FDG uptake of infarcted myocardium on day 1 post-MI was correlated with LV global remodeling, and the FDG uptake of infarcted myocardium on days 1 and 8 post-MI had a trend of correlating with regional remodeling of the infarct area. CONCLUSIONS: We here report a feasible swine model for investigating post-MI inflammation. FDG signal in the infarct area of swine persisted for a longer duration than has been reported in small animals. FDG activity in the infarct area could predict LV remodeling.

Correction to: Multiple cardiovascular involvements in Behçet's disease: unique utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis and follow-up.

Figure c of the original version of this article was not converted properly. Correct figure is presented here. The original article has been corrected.

Value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in differentiating malignancy of pulmonary artery from pulmonary thromboembolism: a cohort study and literature review.

To determine the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in differentiating malignancy of pulmonary artery (PA) from pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) based on a larger number of cases by pooling our cases and those from the literature. Consecutive patients with a PA lesion who had undergone 18F-FDG PET/CT in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Moreover, PubMed, Embase, and Medline were searched for literature reporting individual maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of the malignant PA lesion and/or PTE. 18F-FDG activity was compared between PA malignancy and PTE by pooling the data from literature and our patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the ability of SUVmax to differentiate PA malignancy from PTE. From our database, we identified 11 patients with pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS), and nine cases of PTE. Fifty patients with a malignant PA lesion (40 cases of PAS and 10 cases of tumor embolism) and 22 subjects with PTE were extracted from the literature. In our cases, the SUVmax of PAS (11.1 ± 4.9, range: 5.5-19.9) was significantly higher than that of PTE (1.9 ± 0.6, range: 1.1-3.2; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the SUVmax between the literature data and our cases in malignant lesions or in PTE. Based on the pooled analysis of the literature data and our cases (61 cases of malignant lesions and 31 cases of PTE), the area under the curve for SUVmax to differentiate PA malignancy from PTE was 0.996 (95% CI: 0.989-1.000). At a cutoff value of 3.3, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 98.4%, 96.8%, and 97.8%, respectively. The 18F-FDG uptake value is an accurate index for determining PA malignancy.