Rudolf Werner, Hiroshi Wakabyashi, Xinyu Chen, Mitsuru Hirano, Tetsuya Shinaji, Constantin Lapa, Steven Rowe, Mehrbod Javadi, Takahiro Higuchi

• Background: Precise regional quantitative assessment of renal function is limited with conventional \(^{99m}\)Tc-labeled renal radiotracers. A recent study reported that the positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer 2-deoxy-2-(\(^{18}\)F-fluorosorbitol (\(^{18}\)F-FDS) has ideal pharmacokinetics for functional renal imaging. Furthermore, (\(^{18}\)F-FDS is available via simple reduction from routinely used 2-deoxy-2-(\(^{18}\)F-fluoro-D-glucose ((\(^{18}\)F-FDG). We aimed to further investigate the potential of (\(^{18}\)F-FDS PET as aBackground: Precise regional quantitative assessment of renal function is limited with conventional \(^{99m}\)Tc-labeled renal radiotracers. A recent study reported that the positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer 2-deoxy-2-(\(^{18}\)F-fluorosorbitol (\(^{18}\)F-FDS) has ideal pharmacokinetics for functional renal imaging. Furthermore, (\(^{18}\)F-FDS is available via simple reduction from routinely used 2-deoxy-2-(\(^{18}\)F-fluoro-D-glucose ((\(^{18}\)F-FDG). We aimed to further investigate the potential of (\(^{18}\)F-FDS PET as a functional renal imaging agent using rat models of kidney diseases. Methods: Two different rat models of renal impairment were investigated: Glycerol induced acute renal failure (ARF) by intramuscular administration of glycerol in hind legs and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) by ligation of the left ureter. 24h after these treatments, dynamic 30 min 18F-FDS PET data were acquired using a dedicated small animal PET system. Urine 18F-FDS radioactivity 30 min after radiotracer injection was measured together with co-injected \(^{99m}\)Tc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (\(^{99m}\)Tc-DTPA) urine activity. Results: Dynamic PET imaging demonstrated rapid (\(^{18}\)F-FDS accumulation in the renal cortex and rapid radiotracer excretion via kidneys in control healthy rats. On the other hand, significantly delayed renal radiotracer uptake (continuous slow uptake) was observed in ARF rats and UUO-treated kidneys. Measured urine radiotracer concentrations of (\(^{18}\)F-FDS and \(^{99m}\)Tc-DTPA were well correlated (R=0.84, P<0.05). Conclusions: (\(^{18}\)F-FDS PET demonstrated favorable kinetics for functional renal imaging in rat models of kidney diseases. Advantages of high spatiotemporal resolution of PET imaging and simple tracer production could potentially complement or replace conventional renal scintigraphy in select cases and significantly improve the diagnostic performance of renal functional imaging.…