Value of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 Imaging in the Diagnosis of Renal Fibrosis

Abstract PurposeRenal fibrosis is a pathological state in the progression of chronic kidney disease. Early detection and treatment are vital to prolong the survival of patients. Renal puncture examination represents the gold standard examination method for renal fibrosis, but it has several limitations. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a novel PET radiotracer, [68Ga]Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-04, which specifically images fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expression for renal fibrosis.MethodsAll patients underwent renal puncture before receiving [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging. They then underwent [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT and immunochemistry examinations, and the data obtained were analyzed.ResultsThe [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT examination results showed that almost all patients (12/13) exhibited increased radiotracer uptake. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in patients with mild, moderate, and severe fibrosis was 3.92±1.50, 5.98±1.6, and 7.67±2.23, respectively.ConclusionCompared with renal puncture examination, non-invasive imaging of FAP expression through [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT can quickly show the patient’s bilateral kidney condition with high sensitivity. This can facilitate the evaluation of the patient’s disease progression, diagnosis, and the development of a treatment plan.