Using Gallium 68 PET/CT to diagnose infective endocarditis in patients with prosthetic valves

Contribution of PET/CT With Gallium 68 Citrate (68Ga-PET/CT) for the Diagnosis of Prosthetic Valve Infective Endocarditis

Phase 2 Interventional University Hospital, Bordeaux · NCT05446376

This study is testing if a new type of imaging called Gallium 68 PET/CT can better diagnose heart infections in people with artificial heart valves compared to the current standard method.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Bordeaux Academic / other
Locations1 site (Bordeaux)
Trial IDNCT05446376 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This exploratory study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Gallium 68 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) combined with Computed Tomography (CT) in diagnosing infective endocarditis in patients with prosthetic heart valves. The study compares the diagnostic performance of 68Ga-PET/CT against established criteria from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2023, following a three-month follow-up period. The goal is to reduce false negatives associated with the current standard, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) PET/CT, particularly in patients who may struggle with dietary restrictions required for the latter. A panel of experts will confirm the final diagnosis based on clinical, microbiological, and imaging data.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults over 18 years old with a prosthetic heart valve who are suspected of having infective endocarditis.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have contraindications to PET/CT will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more accurate diagnoses of infective endocarditis, improving patient outcomes and treatment strategies.

How similar studies have performed: While 18FDG-PET/CT has shown significant sensitivity, the use of Gallium 68 PET/CT is a novel approach that has not been extensively tested in this context.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* adult patient (over 18 years old);
* patient with a prosthetic heart valve;
* patient suspected of infective endocarditis (on clinical and/or microbiological and/or imaging data);
* patient whose history is discussed in the multidisciplinary meeting dedicated to endocarditis;
* patient beneficiary of a social security scheme;
* free, informed and written consent signed by the participant and the investigator.

Exclusion Criteria:

* pregnant or breastfeeding women;
* women of childbearing potential not using effective contraception;
* patients referred to in articles L.1121-5 to L.1121-8 (persons deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision, minors, adults subject to a legal protection measure or unable to express their consent);
* subject in a period of relative exclusion due to another protocol;
* known contraindication to PET/CT with injection of radiotracers (hypersensitivity to radiopharmaceuticals and/or excipients).

Where this trial is running

Bordeaux

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Infective Endocarditisprosthetic valvePET/CTGallium 68diagnosisinfective endocarditis
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.