The CXC-motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) represents a promising target for molecular imaging of different CXCR4-positive cell types in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and arterial wall injury. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, pattern, and clinical correlates of arterial wall accumulation of ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor, a specific CXCR4 ligand for PET. Methods: The data for 51 patients who underwent ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor PET/CT for noncardiovascular indications were retrospectively analyzed. Tracer accumulation in the vessel wall of major arteries was analyzed qualitatively and semiquantitatively by blood-pool–corrected target-to-background ratios. Tracer uptake was compared with calcified plaque burden and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Focal arterial uptake of ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor was seen at 1,411 sites in 51 (100%) of patients. ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor uptake was significantly associated with calcified plaque burden (P < 0.0001) and cardiovascular risk factors including age (P < 0.0001), arterial hypertension (P < 0.0001), hypercholesterolemia (P = 0.0005), history of smoking (P = 0.01), and prior cardiovascular events (P = 0.0004). Both the prevalence (P < 0.0001) and the signal intensity (P = 0.009) of ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor uptake increased as the number of risk factors increased. Conclusion: ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor PET/CT is suitable for noninvasive, highly specific PET imaging of CXCR4 expression in the atherosclerotic arterial wall. Arterial wall ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor uptake is significantly associated with surrogate markers of atherosclerosis and is linked to the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor signal is higher in patients with a high-risk profile and may hold promise for identification of vulnerable plaque.

CXC基序趋化因子受体4（CXCR4）代表了在心血管疾病（如动脉粥样硬化和动脉壁损伤）中不同CXCR4阳性细胞类型的分子成像的有希望的目标。这项研究的目的是评估⁶⁸ Ga-pentixafor（PET的一种特定CXCR4配体）的动脉壁积聚的发生率，模式和临床相关性。方法：回顾性分析51例行⁶⁸ Ga-pentixa治疗的PET / CT非心血管适应症患者的数据。通过血池校正的靶与背景之比，定性和半定量分析示踪剂在主要动脉血管壁中的积累。将示踪剂摄取与钙化斑块负担和心血管危险因素进行了比较。结果：在51（100％）位患者的1,411个部位观察到⁶⁸ Ga-pentixafor的局灶性动脉摄取。⁶⁸ Ga-pentixa的摄取与钙化斑块负担（P <0.0001）和心血管危险因素显着相关，包括年龄（P <0.0001），动脉高血压（P <0.0001），高胆固醇血症（P = 0.0005），吸烟史（P = 0.01）和先前的心血管事件（P = 0.0004）。患病率（P <0.0001）和信号强度（P = 0.009）均为⁶⁸Ga-pentixa的摄取随着危险因素数量的增加而增加。结论： ⁶⁸ Ga-pentixafor PET / CT适用于动脉粥样硬化动脉壁中CXCR4表达的非侵入性，高特异性PET成像。动脉壁⁶⁸ Ga-pentixa的摄取与动脉粥样硬化的替代标志物显着相关，并且与存在心血管危险因素有关。⁶⁸ Ga-pentixafor信号在高危型患者中较高，可能有望鉴定出易损斑块。