title: Identification of coronary thrombus with a IIb/IIIa platelet inhibitor radiopharmaceutical, technetium-99m DMP-444: A canine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A diagnostic test that could distinguish between stable and unstable coronary atherosclerotic plaques would be useful. We tested the ability of a new glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet inhibitor DMP-444, labeled with technetium (Tc)-99 m, to identify platelet-rich thrombus by nuclear imaging in a canine model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combinations of a flow-limiting stenosis and 0 to 15 minutes of endothelial electrical stimulation at a site in the left anterior descending coronary artery were used to induce varying amounts of thrombus formation. In 10 animals with markedly positive nuclear images after the injection of Tc-99m DMP-444, the presence of platelet-rich thrombus was confirmed postmortem by gross appearance, high nuclear counts, and abundant platelets on electron microscopy. The 10 animals with negative images had lower counts, smaller thrombus weights (P<0.05 for each), and fewer platelets by electron microscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activated platelets participating in acute thrombus formation can be accurately detected by nuclear imaging using Tc-99 m DMP-444.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories, Division of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06102-5037, USA. Jmitche@harthosp.org
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitchel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alberghini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salloum
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knibbs
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010976:Platelet Count; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C038842:technetium Tc 99m 2,3-dimercaptopropionic acid