Flutemetamol (18F)

Flutemetamol (18F) is a radiopharmaceutical compound used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. It is specifically designed to bind to beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, which are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

Chemistry

Flutemetamol (18F) is a fluorine-18 labeled derivative of Pittsburgh compound B (PiB), a thioflavin derivative that binds to beta-amyloid plaques. The fluorine-18 isotope acts as a positron emitter, allowing the compound to be visualized using PET imaging.

Clinical Use

Flutemetamol (18F) is used in PET imaging to detect beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. This can aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The presence of beta-amyloid plaques is not definitive proof of Alzheimer's disease, as they can also be found in other conditions and in older people with normal cognition. However, their absence can help rule out Alzheimer's disease.

Regulation

Flutemetamol (18F) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013 for use in the United States. It is marketed under the brand name Vizamyl by GE Healthcare.

See Also

• Alzheimer's disease
• Beta-amyloid
• Positron emission tomography
• Radiopharmaceutical
• Pittsburgh compound B