Scintigraphic evaluation of synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis with (99m)technetium-labelled human polyclonal immunoglobulin G.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether (99m)technetium-labelled polyclonal human immunoglobulin G (99mTc-IgG) scintigraphy reflects synovial inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated 29 patients with RA for this reason and found a highly significant correlation between total scintigraphic scores and total tenderness scores (r = 0.781, P < 0.001). A significant correlation was also found between 99mTc-IgG scintigraphic scores and tenderness in all joints other than the shoulders. The 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy had a sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 88% in cases with tenderness and 72% and 81%, respectively, in cases with swelling. Total scintigraphic scores were correlated with serum levels of C-reactive protein (r = 0.401, P < 0.05) but not with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.149, P > 0.05). The correlation between disease activity scores and total scintigraphic scores was also found to be significant (r = 0.812, P < 0.001). We suggest that 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy is a reliable and objective method in detecting synovial activity and can be appropriate for observing disease prognosis in clinical trials with RA.
Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Manisa, Turkey.
A
A
Cindaş
Y
Y
Gökçe-Kustal
P O
PO
Kirth
B
B
Caner
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013585:Synovitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013667:Technetium / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007136:Immunoglobulins; C065376:technetium Tc 99m immunoglobulin; D013667:Technetium