Technetium-99m labelled polyclonal human IgG scintigraphy before and 26 weeks after initiation of parenteral gold treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine effectiveness of technetium-99m labelled polyclonal human immunoglobulin G (99mTc-IgG) scintigraphy to monitor variation in arthritis activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
The results of semiquantitative 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy were compared with those of examination before and 26 weeks after initiation of parenteral gold treatment in 19 patients with RA.


RESULTS
Clinical and laboratory variables of arthritis activity as well as the scores of 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy were significantly lower after gold treatment compared to the scores before treatment. However, the difference between the mean scores of 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy before and after treatment was statistically significant for more joints than such difference in scores for joint pain and joint swelling.


CONCLUSIONS
99mTc-IgG scintigraphy is able to reflect variations in arthritis activity in patients with RA.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D050607:Organogold Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D050607:Organogold Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C079358:technetium TC 99m polyclonal IgG