PET measures of pre- and post-synaptic cardiac beta adrenergic function

Positron Emission Tomography was used to measure global and regional cardiac beta-adrenergic function in 19 normal subjects and 9 congestive heart failure patients. [C-11]-meta-hydroxyephedrine was used to image norepinephrine transporter function as an indicator of pre-synaptic function and [C-11]-CGP12177 was used to measure cell surface beta-receptor density as an indicator of post-synaptic function. Pre-synaptic, but not post-synaptic, function was significantly different between normals and CHF patients. Pre-synaptic function was well matched to post-synaptic function in the normal hearts but significantly different and poorly matched in the CHF patients studied. This imaging technique can help us understand regional sympathetic function in cardiac disease. Published by Elsevier Inc.