Lack of sensitivity of indium-111 mixed leukocyte scans for active disease in Takayasu's arteritis.
OBJECTIVE
Currently, a reliable, noninvasive means of detecting the active vasculitic lesions of Takayasu's arteritis does not exist. Based on the cellular infiltrates seen in active lesions, we postulated that indium-111 labelled mixed leukocytes could be used to scintigraphically detect sites of active vasculitis.


METHODS
Fifteen In-111 mixed leukocyte scans were performed in 10 patients with Takayasu's arteritis and correlated with clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings. Patients had either active, stable/smoldering, or inactive disease at the time when 8, 4, and 3 scans were performed, respectively.


RESULTS
Two of the 8 scans performed in patients with active disease were positive for increased vessel uptake (sensitivity = 25%). All other scans were interpreted as negative for active arteritis.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that In-111 mixed leukocyte scans have a low sensitivity for detection of active Takayasu's arteritis.
Chen
C C
CC
Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Kerr
G S
GS
Carter
C S
CS
Read
E J
EJ
Carrasquillo
J A
JA
Leitman
S F
SF
Hoffman
G S
GS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D007205:Indium Radioisotopes