title: Usefulness of thallium-201 muscle scan to investigate perfusion reserve in the lower limbs of patients with systemic lupus erythematusus.
abstract: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may develop premature atherosclerosis, notably peripheral vascular disease presenting with intermittent claudication or gangrene. This study evaluates the usefulness of thallium-201 muscle perfusion scan (Tl-201 muscle scan) for investigating perfusion reserve in the lower limbs of 25 asymptomatic, female SLE patients without peripheral ischemia findings. The patients showed no evidence of peripheral arterial disease in history, physical examination, or Doppler ultrasonography. A control group consisted of 24 healthy, age-matched women. Each subject flexed her right foot maximally both dorsally and plantarly 60 times. In the middle of this exercise, 2 mCi of Tl-201 was injected intravenously. Three minutes after the injection, a posterior image of both calves was obtained using a gamma camera. Rectangular regions of interest were symmetrically drawn over both calves. The total count in the resting calf was subtracted from the total count in the exercising calf, and the percentage of increase, termed the perfusion reserve, was determined. A significant difference was found between the perfusion reserves of the SLE patients and control groups (75.3+/-8.9% and 99.6+/-9.0%, respectively, P <0.05). In conclusion, perfusion reserve in the lower limb muscles of SLE patients may be measured by Tl-201 muscle perfusion scan.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medicine University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: J J H
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: ChangLai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes