Fibroblast activation protein imaging in reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

The aim of this study was to explore the correlation of ¹⁸F-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and to investigate the value of FAPI imaging in predicting cardiac functional recovery, as well as the correlation between FAPI activity and circulating fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and inflammatory biomarkers.

Fourteen first-time STEMI patients (11 men, mean age: 62 ± 11 years) after PPCI and 14 gender-matched healthy volunteers (10 men, mean age: 50 ± 14 years) who had completed FAPI imaging and blood sample collection were prospectively recruited. All patients underwent baseline FAPI imaging (6 ± 2 days post-MI) and CMR (8 ± 2 days post-MI). Ten patients had follow-up CMR (84 ± 4 days post-MI). Myocardial FAPI activity was analyzed for extent (the percentage of FAPI uptake volume over the left ventricular volume, FAPI%), intensity (target-to-background uptake ratio, TBRmax), and amount (FAPI% × TBRmax). Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), extracellular volume (ECV), microvascular obstruction (MVO), and cardiac function from CMR imaging were analyzed. Blood samples obtained on the day of FAPI imaging were used to assess circulating FAP, TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-6, and hsCRP in STEMI patients and controls.

Localized but inhomogeneous FAPI uptake was observed in STEMI patients, which was larger than the edematous and infarcted myocardium, whereas no uptake was detected in controls. The MVO area showed lower FAPI uptake compared with the surrounding myocardium. FAPI activity was associated with the myocardial injury biomarkers T2WI, LGE, and ECV at both per-patient and per-segment levels (all p < 0.05), but was not associated with circulating FAP, TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-6, or hsCRP. Among the CMR parameters, T2WI had the greatest correlation coefficient with both FAPI% and FAPI% × TBRmax. Baseline TBRmax was inversely correlated with the follow-up left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r =  − 0.73, p = 0.02).

FAPI imaging detects more involved myocardium than CMR in reperfused STEMI, and is associated with myocardial damage and follow-up LVEF.