Assessment of cardiac autonomic neuronal function using PET imaging

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular physiology
• Molecular imaging
• Autonomic nervous system

Background:

• The autonomic nervous system (ANS) critically regulates cardiac function.
• Dysregulation of ANS activity is implicated in cardiovascular diseases.
• Molecular imaging, including SPECT and PET, allows interrogation of ANS targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review clinical and experimental PET tracers for cardiac autonomic imaging.
• To discuss their applications in health and cardiovascular disease.
• To highlight key findings in the last decade.

Main Methods:

• Review of established SPECT tracers (e.g., ¹²³I-MIBG).
• Focus on development and evaluation of PET radiotracers for sympathetic and parasympathetic imaging.
• Analysis of PET's advantages in resolution and quantification over SPECT.

Main Results:

• PET tracers demonstrate potential in identifying cardiac pathologies.
• Heterogeneous sympathetic innervation is linked to lethal ventricular arrhythmias.
• Development of tracers for parasympathetic activity and adrenergic receptors is emerging.

Conclusions:

• PET imaging offers improved regional analysis and quantification of cardiac autonomic function.
• PET tracers are valuable tools for understanding cardiovascular disease mechanisms.
• Continued development of PET tracers will enhance diagnosis and management of heart conditions.