Quantification of Myocardial Blood Flow by Positron Emission Tomography in Healthy Volunteers

Quantification of Myocardial Blood Flow by Positron Emission Tomography in Healthy Volunteers

To establish quantitative values of myocardial blood flow (MBF) in normal, healthy volunteers .

We seek to establish quantitative values of myocardial blood flow in 20 normal, healthy volunteers using our existing 2D PET camera (Positron Attrius) and invasively validated software package (HeartSee) in order to 1) establish institutional values for which clinical patients can be compared to and 2) add to the collective data of the scientific community. Values to be measured will be resting myocardial blood flow (MBF), stress MBF and coronary flow reserve.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults ≥18 and <40 years old
• Participants must be able to give informed consent.
• Ability to abstain from caffeine for 48 hours

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any chronic cardiac disease or condition (e.g. hypertension, hyperlipidemia)
• Any chronic systemic disease or condition (e.g. diabetes, systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
• Tobacco use
• Family history in a first degree relative with clinical coronary artery disease (history of myocardial infarctio, percutaneous intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting) in men <55 years old or women <65 years old
• Severe claustrophobia
• Positive urine pregnancy test
• Inability to give informed consent