18F-FDG PET for semiquantitative evaluation of acute allograft rejection and immunosuppressive therapy efficacy in rat models of liver transplantation.
Acute allograft rejection remains a major complication after liver transplantation. We report a semiquantitative imaging method of detecting acute allograft rejection with (18)F-FDG PET.


METHODS
Syngeneic and allogeneic transplanted rats, with or without immunosuppressive treatment, were subjected to serial PET. Autoradiography of the liver was conducted in both the syngeneic and the allogeneic rats.


RESULTS
A significant increment of (18)F-FDG accumulation in liver allografts was observed by PET on day 2. The (18)F-FDG signal was concentrated in the area where inflammatory cells around the vessels were detected by autoradiography. Allotransplanted rats treated with an immunosuppressive agent displayed a marked decrease in hepatic (18)F-FDG uptake, compared with allotransplanted rats that were not treated.


CONCLUSIONS
(18)F-FDG PET may be a valid method for facilitating the development of protocols to diagnose graft rejection and to monitor the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy.
Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan.
Atsushi B
AB
Tsuji
Miwa
M
Morita
Xiao-Kang
XK
Li
Chizuru
C
Sogawa
Hitomi
H
Sudo
Aya
A
Sugyo
Masayuki
M
Fujino
Atsushi
A
Sugioka
Mitsuru
M
Koizumi
Tsuneo
T
Saga
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18