New PET Scan Detected Cardiac Amyloidosis More Accurately
A new diagnostic imaging tool may help doctors identify early-stage heart disease more reliably than current scans.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Heart Disease
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A phase III study has found that a new PET scan agent, 124I-evuzamitide, is highly effective at identifying cardiac amyloidosis in patients. This diagnostic development may eventually offer a more precise alternative for people currently undergoing testing for this condition.
Why it matters
Current diagnostic standards like bone scintigraphy often result in false negatives during the early stages of heart disease, potentially delaying critical care. This new imaging approach addresses those diagnostic gaps, which could lead to earlier clinical intervention for patients.
In a phase III study of 170 people suspected of having cardiac amyloidosis, 124I-evuzamitide PET scans achieved 93.5% sensitivity and 86.0% specificity. The imaging detected early ATTR amyloidosis at a higher rate than conventional bone scintigraphy.
The players
Bayer
A pharmaceutical company that develops diagnostic imaging agents and treatments for cardiovascular conditions.
The details
The PET/CT imaging process involves administering 1 mCi of 124I-evuzamitide to patients to visualize amyloid protein deposits in the heart tissue. To ensure the safety of the thyroid during the procedure, patients must take oral potassium iodide for 3 days to block the effects of the iodine tracer. The resulting images correlate with clinical markers of amyloid burden, allowing for a more accurate assessment of disease presence than existing diagnostic methods.
Timeline
- 2026-10-12
Results were presented at the HFSA annual meeting.
Health Landscape
The REVEAL study updates the diagnostic toolkit for heart failure by refining how we identify protein deposition in the heart compared to traditional imaging methods. These findings represent a potential departure from current reliance on bone-avid tracers that often miss early disease markers.
If you are currently undergoing workups for suspected cardiac amyloidosis, discuss the current diagnostic limitations with your cardiologist. Ask whether emerging imaging technologies might eventually change the way your heart health is monitored or if additional tests are appropriate.
The takeaway
This imaging advancement offers hope for more precise detection of amyloidosis, a condition that is notoriously difficult to capture in its early stages. Keep this development in mind as a potential topic for a future conversation with your cardiologist regarding the evolution of diagnostic options.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in diagnostic testing and care by visiting our Heart Disease section.
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