Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Private Bag X169, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa.
Ann Nucl Med. 2022 Jul;36(7):684-692. doi: 10.1007/s12149-022-01752-6. Epub 2022 May 25.
This study aimed to determine the correlation of [Ga]Ga-NODAGA uptake in atherosclerotic plaques and the cardiovascular risk profile of patients imaged with positron emission tomography (PET), wherein quantification of uptake was determined by atherosclerotic plaque maximum target-to-background ratio (TBRmax). We also correlated uptake with a history of cardiovascular events.
We included patients who underwent PET/CT imaging post-injection of [Ga] Ga-NODAGA. We documented the number of atherosclerotic plaques found in the major arteries on CT and the cardiovascular risks in each patient. We quantified the intensity of tracer uptake in atherosclerotic plaque in the major arteries using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax). The SUVmax of the most tracer-avid plaque was documented as representative of the individual arterial bed. We determined background vascular tracer activity using the mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) obtained from the lumen of the superior vena cava. The maximum target-to-background ratio (TBRmax) was calculated as a ratio of the SUVmax to the SUVmean. The TBRmax was correlated to the number of atherogenic risk factors and history of cardiovascular events.
Thirty-four patients (M: F 31:3; mean age ± SD: 63 ± 10.01 years) with ≥ 2 cardiovascular risk factors were included. Statistically significant correlation between TBRmax and the number of cardiovascular risk factors was noted in the right carotid (r = 0.50; p < 0.05); left carotid (r = 0. 649; p < 0.05); ascending aorta (r = 0.375; p < 0.05); aortic arch (r = 0.483; p < 0.05); thoracic aorta (r = 0.644; p < 0.05); left femoral (r = 0.552; p < 0.05) and right femoral arteries (r = 0.533; p < 0.05). TBRmax also demonstrated a positive correlation to history of cardiovascular event in the right carotid (U = 26.00; p < 0.05); left carotid (U = 11.00; p < 0.05); ascending aorta (U = 49.00; p < 0.05); aortic arch (U = 37.00; p < 0.05); thoracic aorta (U = 16.00; p < 0.05); left common iliac (U = 49.500; p < 0.05), right common iliac (U = 43.00; p < 0.05), left femoral (U = 40.500; p < 0.05) and right femoral (U = 37.500; p < 0.05).
In this cohort of patients, a positive correlation was noted between atherosclerotic plaque uptake of [Ga]Ga-NODAGA and the number of atherogenic risk factors which translates to the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors.
本研究旨在确定动脉粥样硬化斑块中 [Ga]Ga-NODAGA 的摄取与接受正电子发射断层扫描（PET）成像的患者的心血管风险特征之间的相关性，其中摄取的定量由动脉粥样硬化斑块的最大靶与背景比（TBRmax）确定。我们还将摄取与心血管事件史相关联。
我们纳入了接受 [Ga]Ga-NODAGA 注射后进行 PET/CT 成像的患者。我们在 CT 上记录了主要动脉中发现的动脉粥样硬化斑块的数量，以及每个患者的心血管风险。我们使用最大标准化摄取值（SUVmax）定量测量主要动脉中动脉粥样硬化斑块的示踪剂摄取强度。记录最具示踪剂摄取活性的斑块的 SUVmax 作为个体动脉床的代表。我们使用从上腔静脉管腔获得的平均标准化摄取值（SUVmean）确定背景血管示踪剂活性。最大靶与背景比（TBRmax）定义为 SUVmax 与 SUVmean 的比值。TBRmax 与致动脉粥样硬化风险因素的数量和心血管事件史相关联。
纳入了 34 名患者（M：F 31：3；平均年龄±标准差：63±10.01 岁），他们有≥2 个心血管危险因素。右颈动脉（r=0.50；p<0.05）；左颈动脉（r=0.649；p<0.05）；升主动脉（r=0.375；p<0.05）；主动脉弓（r=0.483；p<0.05）；胸主动脉（r=0.644；p<0.05）；左股动脉（r=0.552；p<0.05）和右股动脉（r=0.533；p<0.05）中 TBRmax 与心血管风险因素的数量之间存在统计学显著相关性。TBRmax 还与右颈动脉（U=26.00；p<0.05）；左颈动脉（U=11.00；p<0.05）；升主动脉（U=49.00；p<0.05）；主动脉弓（U=37.00；p<0.05）；胸主动脉（U=16.00；p<0.05）；左髂总动脉（U=49.500；p<0.05）；右髂总动脉（U=43.00；p<0.05）；左股动脉（U=40.500；p<0.05）和右股动脉（U=37.500；p<0.05）的心血管事件史呈正相关。
在本队列患者中，动脉粥样硬化斑块中 [Ga]Ga-NODAGA 的摄取与致动脉粥样硬化风险因素的数量之间存在正相关，这与动脉粥样硬化和心血管风险因素的风险相关。
