Molecular Imaging of Early α_vβ₃ Integrin Expression Predicts Long-Term Left-Ventricle Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction in Rats

Abstract

High levels of (18)F-RGD uptake in the perfusion defect area early after MI were associated with the absence of significant LV remodeling after 12 wk of follow-up. These results suggest that α(v)β(3) integrin expression is a potential biomarker of myocardial repair processes after MI and enables the monitoring of these processes by molecular imaging to derive possible prognostic information.