Radionuclide exploration of dialysis amyloidosis: preliminary experience.
The noninvasive diagnosis of amyloid arthropathy in dialysis patients is still uncertain. Therefore, we investigated the potential diagnostic value of the 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate scan in seven long-term hemodialysis patients suffering from chronic joint pain who had biopsy-proven osteoarticular amyloidosis of the recently discovered beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) type. In six, but in none of five control patients on short-term hemodialysis, increased tracer uptake was found at the site of one or several articular and/or periarticular regions. Increased uptake at a given joint was often, but not always, associated with joint pain. It appeared to precede radiologically visible changes. In conclusion, the 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate scan may be of help in the early diagnosis of dialysis amyloidosis.
Grateau
G
G
Départment de Néphrologie, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
Zingraff
J
J
Fauchet
M
M
Mundler
O
O
Raymond
P
P
Berthelot
J M
JM
Bardin
T
T
Kuntz
D
D
Drüeke
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D001175:Arthrography; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*