Evaluation of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis by Tc-99m MIBI Imaging.
- Author:
Ihn Ho CHO
1
;
Kyung Ah CHUN
;
Young Hoon HONG
;
Choong Ki LEE
;
Jeung Hee HA
Author Information
1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospitall, Korea. ihcho@med.yu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis;
Tc-99m MIBI;
DMARDs
- MeSH:
Antirheumatic Agents;
Arthritis, Rheumatoid*;
Blood Sedimentation;
C-Reactive Protein;
Female;
Humans;
Joints;
Male
- From:Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
2004;38(6):506-510
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: We investigated whether Tc-99m MIBI imaging is useful to predict the response of drug treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 24 patients (15 women and 9 men, age 49 +/- 12 year) rheumatoid arthritis and treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were included in this study. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured, and Tc-99m MIBI scan was obtained before drug treatment. Quantitative analysis of uptake in diseased joints was performed and expressed as joint-to background ratio (J/B) and percent retention (%R) of Tc-99m MIBI. Clinical symptoms were evaluated and graded from 0 (no) to 3 (severe) regarding to presence of tenderness and swelling. RESULTS: J/B of the diseased joints were significantly correlated with ESR and CRP (p< 0.05). A highly significant correlation was found between the improvement of clinical symptoms and %R of Tc-99m MIBI (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that Tc-99m MIBI scan may be used to predict the therapeutic response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
