Table 3 Abstracts of included documents 

Lu [9]

Objective: This study compared ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor uptake in active arterial segments with corresponding ¹⁸F-FDG arterial uptake as well as the relationship with cardiac ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor uptake.

Conclusion: ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET/MRI identified many more lesions than ¹⁸F-FDG PET/MRI. Patients with high-risk cardiovascular factors illustrated an increased uptake of ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor. There was a correlation between the elevated uptake of ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor in the active arterial segments and heart.

Lawal [10]

Objective: In this study we aimed to perform a head-to-head comparison of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for quantification of arterial inflammation in PLHIV.

Conclusion: We found a high level of agreement in the quantification variables obtained using ¹⁸F-FDG PET and ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET. There is a good level of agreement in the arterial tracer quantification variables obtained using ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT in PLHIV. This suggests that ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor may be applied in the place of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for the quantification of arterial inflammation.

Kircher [11]

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the performance of ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for imaging atherosclerosis in comparison to ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT.

Conclusion: CXCR4-directed imaging of the arterial wall with ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT identified more lesions than ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, with only a weak correlation between tracers.

Li [12]

Objective: We aimed to evaluate ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET in combination MRI for in vivo quantification of CXCR4 expression in carotid plaques.

Conclusions: In vivo evaluation of CXCR4 expression in carotid atherosclerotic lesions is feasible using ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET/MRI. In atherosclerotic plaque tissue, CXCR4 expression might be used as a surrogate marker for inflammatory atherosclerosis.

Li [13]

Objective: We sought to evaluate human atherosclerotic lesions using ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET/MRI.

Conclusion: Patients with high arterial uptake showed increased incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting apotential role of ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor in characterization of atherosclerosis.

Weiberg [14]

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, pattern, and clinical correlates of arterial wall accumulation of ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor, a specific CXCR4 ligand for PET.

Conclusion: ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT is suitable for non-invasive, highly specific PET imaging of CXCR4 expression in the atherosclerotic arterial wall. Arterial wall ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor uptake is significantly associated with surrogate markers of atherosclerosis, and is linked to the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. ⁶⁸Ga-Pentixafor signal is higher in patients with a high-risk profile, and may hold promise for identification of vulnerable plaque.