Modified technetium-99m heparin for the imaging of acute experimental myocardial infarcts

The authors have reported previously that technetium-99m heparin (TcH) accumulates in, and allows scintigraphic identification of, damaged canine myocardium occurring with temporary occlusion and reperfusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. A recent modification consists of using heparin from sheep lung, with stannous phosphate as the reducing agent. In 12 dogs with permanent LAD occlusion, six were injected intravenously with TcH (3-6 mCi) at 24 hr after occlusion, and six at 48 hr. Each experimental animal demonstrated relatively high TcH uptake in the left-ventricular infarct region as compared with normal myocardium. The in vivo scintigrams in all animals with gross myocardial infarcts were positive. The results suggest that this modified TcH has value for identifying experimental myocardial infarcts and that the reduced bone uptake, compared with that occurring with Tc-99m phosphates, may be an advantage for scintigraphic infarct detection.