Protein-losing enteropathy detected by 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin abdominal scintigraphy.
99mTc-labeled human serum albumin (HSA) abdominal imaging is a new way of demonstrating gastrointestinal protein loss. We present two children with hypoalbuminemia of obscure etiology in whom albumin loss was localized in the gastrointestinal tract with 99mTc-HSA scintigraphy and the loss correlated with abnormal fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin excretion. In the absence of gastrointestinal blood loss or contamination of the 99mTc-HSA with free pertechnetate, significant activity accumulating in the gastrointestinal tract and moving with its contents is thought to represent 99mTc-HSA leakage into bowel lumen. Abdominal imaging with 99mTc-HSA has a low radiation burden to the patient and is readily available, relatively inexpensive, and easily performed. It can be used as a screening test for the detection of protein-losing enteropathy. It also offers the potential of being able to localize the site of protein loss visually within the gastrointestinal tract.
Lan
J A
JA
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461.
Chervu
L R
LR
Marans
Z
Z
Collins
J C
JC
D002648:Child; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism
D012709:Serum Albumin; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin