99mTc human immunoglobulin scintigraphy--a reliable method to detect joint activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
The ability of 99mtechnetium labelled nonspecific, polyclonal human immunoglobulin G (99mTc-IgG) scintigraphy to depict and quantify synovial inflammation was studied in 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). All patients were injected with 350 MBq 99mTc-IgG and imaging was performed 4 h later. This resulted in excellent images of inflamed synovium. Scores for 99mTc-IgG joint scintigraphy correlated highly with scores for joint swelling and C-reactive protein levels, weakly with pain scores and not with radiographic scores of joint destruction. These results suggest that 99mTc-IgG joint scintigraphy may provide an objective test to detect synovitis and measure the activity of the disease.
de Bois
M H
MH
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Arndt
J W
JW
van der Velde
E A
EA
van der Lubbe
P A
PA
Westedt
M L
ML
Pauwels
E K
EK
Breedveld
F C
FC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013585:Synovitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013667:Technetium
D007136:Immunoglobulins; C065376:technetium Tc 99m immunoglobulin; D013667:Technetium; D002097:C-Reactive Protein