Detection of acute atrial thrombus in a porcine model with atrial fibrillation with tc 99m-apcitide.
OBJECTIVE
Technetium-99m apcitide (AcuTect) is a peptide with high affinity and specificity for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors on platelets and is currently approved for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis. This study evaluates the use of Tc-99m apcitide for detecting intracardiac thrombus in an animal model with atrial fibrillation.


METHODS
Thrombogenic material (0.23+/- 0.03 g) was implanted within the left atrium of 5 swine with induced atrial fibrillation. Scintigraphy was performed with a small field of view gamma camera (minimum of 400000 counts) 1 hour after implantation at 10, 60, and 120 minutes after the injection of the Tc-99m apcitide. Animals were then euthanized and a postmortem examination performed to confirm thrombus formation.


RESULTS
: In all animals, thrombi and microthrombi were confirmed within the left atrial appendage. The average wet weight of the thrombus was 1.4 +/- 0.2 g. Tc-99m apcitide detected left atrial thrombus in all animals.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that AcuTect may prove useful for detecting intracardiac thrombus in future clinical studies in man.
DeHoyos
Maj Jose C
MJ
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6200, USA. Jose.DeHoyos@cen.amedd.army.mil
Rubal
Bernard J
BJ
Bradley
Maj Yong C
MY
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013552:Swine; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology
D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C094919:technetium Tc 99m P280