title: Quantitative scintigraphy using radiophosphate and radiogallium in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Quantitative scintigraphy of the wrist, MCP, and knee joints in patients with RA was performed using Tc-99m-MDP and Ga-67 citrate. Radiopharmaceutical uptake in affected joints was compared with uptake at 2 control reference sites (juxta-articular bone and soft tissue). Following a 6-week course of therapy with Sulindac, the patients' overall assessment of disease was improved, but the results of joint/bone and joint/soft tissue ratios were variable. Improvement using Tc-99m-MDP during the first 2 weeks of NSAID therapy was noted in the minimally inflamed wrist by joint/soft tissue measurement and in the maximally affected MCP joint by joint/bone ratio. There was no change in the joint ratios employing the Ga-67 citrate radiopharmaceutical. The initial qualitative score assigned to a joint using Tc-99m-MDP was in agreement with the calculated quantitative ratio except for the knee joint. Our results suggest that quantitative scintigraphy in its present format cannot be used as a reliable indicator to monitor the course of rheumatoid arthritis during NSAID therapy and subjective measurements are still the best judge of effective treatment.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tannenbaum
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosenthall
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arzoumanian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013467:Sulindac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D013467:Sulindac; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate