Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, Vol 27, Issue 3 204-206, Copyright © 1999 by Society of Nuclear Medicine
Technetium-99m-HMPAO-labeled leukocyte imaging in patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies
JC Alonso, A Soriano, C Rubio, JL Cuadra, M Zarca, P Guerra, A Garcia and C Molino
Department of Reumatology and Clinical Research Unit, Hospital Complex of Ciudad Real, Spain.
OBJECTIVE: Gut inflammation is frequent among patients with seronegative
spondyloarthropathies (SSp). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the
presence of positive abdominal findings in patients with SSp who did not
have clinical symptoms or signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This
represents a new indication for abdominal 99mTc-HMPAO-labeled leukocyte
scintigraphy. METHODS: Eighty-six patients (59 with SSp and 27 controls)
were prospectively imaged with 99mTc-HMPAO-labeled leukocytes. RESULTS:
Leukocyte imaging was positive in 33 patients with SSp (56%), 27 of these
patients scored between 2+ and 4+ (51%). Four (15%) control patients also
had positive findings. CONCLUSION: These findings provide evidence linking
SSp with intestinal inflammation. SSp may be an important new indication
for 99mTc-HMPAO-labeled autologous leukocyte scintigraphy.
