Technetium-99m labelled somatostatin analogue myocardial uptake in subacute and “old” myocardial infarction: initial experience

Abstract

Background. It has been shown that prognosis following acute myocardial infarction (MI) strongly correlates with intensity of inflammatory reactions in response to myocardial injury. Thereby diagnostic methods for myocardial post-infarction inflammation (PII) monitoring are needed. Scintigraphy with somatostatin receptor targeted radiotracers has prospects for PII imaging, but its clinical value is poorly studied.Methods. Six patients with ST-segment elevation anterior myocardial infarction (STEMI) were examined by chest SPECT/СT with 99mTc-Tektrotyd and rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) at subacute and remote (8 th month) period of the disease. Parameters of both scintigraphic methods were estimated.Results. In subacute stage of MI myocardial perfusion defects were revealed in all 6 patients (mean SRS 11.83 ± 8.89), 99mTc-Tektrotyd uptake in myocardium was revealed in 3 of 6 patients. At remote period intense uptake of 99mTc-Tektrotyd was found only in 1 patient. This uptake was more spread and clears, comparing with accumulation in subacute stage of AMI.Conclusion. Myocardium scintigraphy with 99mTc-Tektrotyd allows identifying overexpression of somatostatin receptors in areas of recent and old myocardium infarction. In some patients the radiopharmaceutical uptake may expands to a remote period of the disease. Further larger studies and histological validation of scintigraphic results are needed.