A Prospective Diagnostic Trial of Al[¹⁸F]F-NOTA-folate PET in Patients With Suspected Cardiac Sarcoidosis and Infective Endocarditis

The goal of this prospective diagnostic study is to evaluate the imaging characteristics, diagnostic performance, radiation dosimetry, and safety of Al\[¹⁸F\]F-NOTA-folate PET imaging in patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis and infective endocarditis, and healthy volunteers. The study is non-interventional with respect to clinical management, and all diagnostic and therapeutic decisions are made according to routine clinical practice independent of study participation. The main aims are to evaluate quantitative uptake of Al\[¹⁸F\]F-NOTA-folate measured by PET imaging in the left ventricular myocardium of patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis, and in cardiac valves or prosthetic valve regions in patients with suspected infective endocarditis. Participants will undergo PET imaging with Al\[¹⁸F\]F-NOTA-folate tracer at the Turku PET Centre. Participants with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis will undergo a second PET imaging study after initiation of immunosuppressive therapy.