Novel Radiopharmaceuticals in Cardiovascular Medicine: Present and Future

Abstract

Advancements in molecular medicine technology have allowed the development of innovative and better radiopharmaceuticals to augment or replace the existing ones, allowing the acquisition of higher-quality and detailed diagnostic information and accuracy. They build on the strengths of the existing radiotracers or remove their shortcomings, thus bringing them closer to the ideal. Given the discovery of more novel molecules, it is now possible that processes in the human body indicative of predisease stage can be imaged, allowing for appropriate interventions earlier–preventing the development of late stage disease, preventing morbidity and mortality, and reducing the burden on the national health care system. Both positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography are developing in the fields of perfusion, metabolic, and innervation imaging of the heart. Newer radiotracers can yield higher-quality images with a greater diagnostic potential that are more convenient to use in the daily practice, and at a lower cost. In addition, tracers have been developed for imaging processes like cardiac apoptosis, angiogenesis, and the development of coronary atherosclerosis, enabling physicians to minimize the pathological changes at the reversible stage by promoting appropriate lifestyle changes and pharmaceutical interventions. In this article, we overview the most promising radiotracers that in the future have the potential to become established imaging agents in the field of cardiac nuclear medicine.