[18F]FDG PET/CT as an endpoint marker in drug interventional studies in atherosclerosis - a structured review

EJNMMI Research, vol. 16

Abstract

Inflammation plays a central role in the initiation, progression, and destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. Persistent vascular inflammation despite therapeutic intervention may contribute substantially to residual cardiovascular risk. In this context, [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission-tomography ([ 18 F]FDG PET) imaging has emerged as a non-invasive imaging biomarker capable of visualizing and quantifying vascular inflammatory activity in vivo. Previously published studies showed that the use of [ 18 F]FDG PET may provide a non-invasive assessment of arterial inflammation. Accordingly, we aimed to systematically summarize treatment studies using [ 18 F]FDG PET as an endpoint marker. 18 studies were considered to be eligible for data extraction. Of these 22 articles, 10 investigated vascular inflammation reduction after trials with lipid-lowering therapies, the other 12 were considering the effect of novel anti-inflammatory drugs on vascular inflammation. This review provides an overview of the additional value that [ 18 F]FDG PET can provide as an endpoint marker in clinical intervention trials. Overall, statin therapies demonstrated a more consistent reduction in vascular [ 18 F]FDG uptake compared to novel anti-inflammatory therapies.

Authors 5

1. Casper E. W. Gijsen

   Maastricht University · Maastricht University Medical Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC⁺), Maastricht, the Netherlands

2. Felix M. Mottaghy Aachen Department of Nuclear Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen · Maastricht University · Maastricht University Medical Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC⁺), Maastricht, the Netherlands

3. Ahmed A Tawakol

   Massachusetts General Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

   Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

4. Joachim Ernst Wildberger

   Maastricht University · Maastricht University Medical Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Cardiovascular Research Institute (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC⁺), Maastricht, the Netherlands

   Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC⁺), Maastricht, the Netherlands

5. Jan A. Bucerius corresponding

   Medical University of Graz · Maastricht University · Maastricht University Medical Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Cardiovascular Research Institute (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC⁺), Maastricht, the Netherlands. jan.bucerius@medunigraz.at

   Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC⁺), Maastricht, the Netherlands. jan.bucerius@medunigraz.at

   Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 9, Graz, 8036, Austria. jan.bucerius@medunigraz.at