Cardiac Applications of Fibroblast Activation Protein Imaging

Abstract

Several promising applications of cardiac molecular fibroblast activation protein (FAP) imaging are emerging. Myocardial fibrosis plays a key role in the complex process of cardiac remodeling and can lead to adverse clinical outcomes such as left ventricular dysfunction, propensity to arrhythmias, and reduction of perfusion. If fibrosis becomes irreversible, patients can develop heart failure. Therefore identification and early fibrosis treatment is highly warranted. FAP-targeted imaging enables new insights into pathogenesis and treatment response in various cardiac diseases such as myocardial infarction, heart failure or systemic diseases being a new selective biomarker.

Keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; Cardiac magnetic resonance tomography; Fibroblast activation protein; Heart failure; Molecular imaging; PET.