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.
Cindaş
A
A
Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Manisa, Turkey.
Gökçe-Kustal
Y
Y
Kirth
P O
PO
Caner
B
B
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