Imaging of Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Using Sodium [18F]Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Rats and Humans

Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) using sodium [F-18]fluoride (Na[F-18]F) has been proven to be a promising hot-spot imaging modality for myocardial infarction (MI). We investigated Na[F-18]F uptake in ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) of rats and humans. Sodium [F-18]fluoride PET/CT was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats that had IRI surgery, and it readily demonstrated prominent Na[F-18]F uptake in the infarct area post-IRI. Sodium [F-18]fluoride uptake was matched with negative 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride staining results, accompanied by myocardial apoptosis and associated with positive calcium staining results. Furthermore, area at risk was negative for Na[F-18]F uptake. Cyclosporine A (CysA) treatment reduced standardized uptake value of F-18 over the infarct area, and a significant decrease in infarct size was also observed by the CysA treatment. In humans, Na[F-18]F PET/CT readily demonstrated increased Na[F-18]F uptake in the 2 patients with MI post-percutaneous coronary intervention. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the potential utility of Na[F-18]F PET/CT as a hot-spot imaging modality for myocardial IRI.