Amyvid: A review and assessment of clinical implementation

Objectives Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent illness in our aging population that has proven difficult both to diagnose and treat. Amyvid (Florbetapir F-18), a new FDA-approved PET tracer that images β-amyloid neuritic plaques common in those with AD, could prove beneficial in diagnosing AD. As with most new agents, clinical implementation can be an arduous task. The purpose of the study is to educate technologists on obstacles to clinical implementation of Amyvid.

Methods Vendor guidelines were reviewed for imaging protocol, patient selection, camera validation, image acquisition and analysis. In addition, a physician and a technologist from two separate academic institutions in the St. Louis metropolitan area that have performed research trials with Amyvid and offer the study clinically were interviewed regarding their experience with implementing Amyvid in their departments.

Results Both institutions successfully implemented Amyvid in research trials and have made preparations for its clinical use should the demand arise. Interview responses suggest the largest barrier to clinical implementation of Amyvid is reimbursement by insurance companies. From a physician’s perspective, there is concern about the role of Amyvid PET scans on patient management and outcomes.

Conclusions Amyvid is in the early stages following FDA approval, and although it was implemented successfully in research trials and they have developed plans for the clinical use at these two institutions, its future clinical implementation and usefulness still remain to be seen.