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Protocol for measuring myocardial blood flow by PET/CT in cats

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to establish a protocol for measuring myocardial blood flow (MBF) by PET/CT in healthy cats. The rationale was its future use in Maine Coon cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as a model for human HCM.

Methods

MBF was measured in nine anaesthetized healthy cats using a PET/CT scanner and 13NH3 at rest and during adenosine infusion. Each cat was randomly assigned to receive vasodilator stress with two or three adenosine infusions at the following rates (μg/kg per minute): 140 (Ado 1, standard rate for humans), 280 (Ado 2, twice the human standard rate), 560 (Ado 4), 840 (Ado 6) and 1,120 (Ado 8).

Results

The median MBF at rest was 1.26 ml/min per g (n = 9; range 0.88–1.72 ml/min per g). There was no significant difference at Ado 1 (n = 3; median 1.35, range 0.93–1.55 ml/min per g; ns) but MBF was significantly greater at Ado 2 (n = 6; 2.16, range 1.35–2.68 ml/min per g; p < 0.05) and Ado 4 (n = 6; 2.11, 1.92–2.45 ml/min per g; p < 0.05). Large ranges of MBF values at Ado 6 (n = 4; 2.53, 2.32–5.63 ml/min per g; ns) and Ado 8 (n = 3; 2.21, 1.92–5.70 ml/min per g; ns) were noted. Observed adverse effects, including hypotension, AV-block and ventricular premature contractions, were all mild, of short duration and immediately reversed after cessation of the adenosine infusion.

Conclusion

MBF can be safely measured in cats using PET. An intravenous adenosine infusion at a rate of 280 μg/kg per minute seems most appropriate to induce maximal hyperaemic MBF response in healthy cats. Higher adenosine rates appear less suitable as they are associated with a large heterogeneity in flow increase and rate pressure product, most probably due to the large variability in haemodynamic and heart rate response.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Ratko Milovanovic for data acquisition, Sabine B.R. Kaestner for help with planning and monitoring anaesthesia, Claudia E. Reusch for helpful discussions, Stefan Schellenberg for excellent support in preparing the manuscript, and Ingrid Vitali for providing the Maine Coon cats. The study was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF professorship grant no PP00A-114706).

This work was presented in part at the 15th European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Companion Animal Congress, Glasgow, UK, 1–3 September 2005.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Simone D. Jenni & Tony M. Glaus

  2. Cardiovascular Center, Nuclear Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, NUK C 42, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Tiziano Schepis, Patrick T. Siegrist & Philipp A. Kaufmann

  3. Cardiovascular Center, Echocardiography, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

    Rolf Jenni

  4. Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Philipp A. Kaufmann

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  1. Simone D. Jenni
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Correspondence to Philipp A. Kaufmann.

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Jenni, S.D., Schepis, T., Jenni, R. et al. Protocol for measuring myocardial blood flow by PET/CT in cats. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 36, 244–249 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-008-0950-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-008-0950-7

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