Noninvasive imaging of 99mtechnetium-labeled low density lipoprotein uptake by tendon xanthomas in hypercholesterolemic patients.
Technetium-labeled low density lipoproteins (Tc-LDL) appear to be useful for describing LDL biodistribution in normal and dyslipidemic subjects. We injected 99mTc-LDL into subjects with large tendon xanthomas secondary to homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or sitosterolemia. Rapid (4 hours) accumulation of Tc-99m activity in xanthomas was observed, and this accumulation increased over a 24-hour period. No comparable accumulations of Tc-99m activity were noted in normal subjects or in a subject with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who had very small tendon xanthomas. These findings support previous biopsy data indicating active uptake of LDL by macrophages within xanthoma and suggest that 99mTc-LDL imaging of xanthomas may be useful in studies of the effects of diet and drugs on the accumulation of lipoproteins by atherosclerotic plaques.
Ginsberg
H N
HN
Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York 10032.
Goldsmith
S J
SJ
Vallabhajosula
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D014973:Xanthomatosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C058312:technetium Tc 99m low-density lipoprotein