BMIPP uptake in relation to PET imaging

While in-vivo myocardial metabolic studies have been most intensively studied with PET, iodinated fatty acid analogs have a great impact on metabolic imaging in vivo in many clinical centers due to widely availability of iodinated compounds supplied from the company. An iodinated branched fatty acid analog, BMIPP provided excellent images of the left ventricular myocardium and may probe myocardial energy metabolism in vivo. The segments with discordant BMIPP uptake less than thallium which was often seen in patients with coronary artery disease may represent ischemic but viable myocardium where increase in glucose metabolism is also observed. In addition, oxidative metabolism is also preserved in such myocardium. Therefore, the combined imaging using BMIPP and thallium permits detection of ischemic but viable myocardium on the basis of alteration of myocardial energy metabolism. (orig.)