Molecular imaging of calcific aortic valve disease

J Nucl Cardiol. 2018 Aug;25(4):1148-1155. doi: 10.1007/s12350-017-1158-7. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Abstract

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) can progress to symptomatic aortic stenosis in a subset of patients. The severity of aortic stenosis and the extent of valvular calcification can be evaluated readily by echocardiography, CT, and MRI using well-established imaging protocols. However, these techniques fail to address optimally other important aspects of CAVD, including the propensity for disease progression, risk of complications in asymptomatic patients, and the effect of therapeutic interventions on valvular biology. These gaps may be addressed by molecular imaging targeted at key biological processes such as inflammation, remodeling, and calcification that mediate the development and progression of CAVD. In this review, recent advances in valvular molecular imaging, including 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) PET, and matrix metalloproteinase-targeted SPECT imaging in the preclinical and clinical settings are presented and discussed.

Keywords: Aortic stenosis; FDG; aortic valve; matrix metalloproteinases; molecular imaging; sodium fluoride.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aortic Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve / pathology*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Supplementary concepts

  • Aortic Valve, Calcification of