Microcirculation of the fingers in Raynaud's syndrome: (99m)Tc-DTPA imaging.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the circulatory characteristics of patients suffering of primary and secondary Raynaud's syndrome.


METHODS
We examined 106 patients presenting with the classical symptoms of Raynaud's syndrom (47 primary, 59 secondary) by hand perfusion scintigraphy developed by our Department of Nuclear Medicine. After visual evaluation we analyzed the images semiquantitatively, using the finger to palm ratio. We statistically compared the patients with primary and those with secondary Raynaud's syndrome.


RESULTS
By visual evaluation we constated regional perfusion disturbances in 42 from 59 patients with secondary Raynaud's syndrome. However, this was observed in only 3 from 47 patients with the primary form of this disease. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Semiquantitative analysis showed that the finger/palm ratios (FPR) were significantly lower (p<0.05) for the patients with primary Raynaud's syndrome. No differences in the FPR values concerning sex or right and left side.


CONCLUSIONS
The hand perfusion scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-DTPA is a noninvasive, cost effective diagnostic tool, which objectively reflects the global and regional microcirculatory abnormalities of the hands, and provides quantitative data for follow-up.
Csiki
Z
Z
3th Department of Internal Medicine University of Debrecen Medical and Health Science Center, Móricz Zs. krt. 22, 4004 Debrecen, Hungary. csiki@iiibel.dote.hu
Garai
I
I
Varga
J
J
Szücs
G
G
Galajda
Z
Z
András
C
C
Zeher
M
M
Galuska
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate