Technetium-99m human immunoglobulin scintigraphy in psoriatic arthropathy: first results

• Published in: European journal of nuclear medicine Vol. 21; no. 4; p. 342
• Main Authors: Stoeger, A, Mur, E, Penz-Schneeweiss, D, Moncayo, R, Decristoforo, C, Riccabona, G, Fridrich, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.04.1994
• Subjects: Arthritis, Psoriatic - diagnostic imaging; Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging; Fingers - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Radionuclide Imaging; Sensitivity and Specificity; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
• ISSN: 0340-6997
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00176574

Standard bone scintigraphy [using technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP)] is widely held to be the most sensitive method for the early detection of psoriatic arthropathy. Preliminary results of this study reveal that 99mTc human immunoglobulin (HIG) scintigraphy demonstrates a typical premature pattern of extradermal psoriatic disease in digits indicative of the early stage of psoriatic arthritis. This pattern was also found in a rare case of psoriatic arthropathy without skin lesions. 99mTc-HIG scintigraphy appears to reveal the initial inflammatory characteristics of later bone lesions. In the advanced stage of psoriatic arthritis, 99mTc-MDP and 99mTc-HIG scans were found to be equally sensitive in the detection of the affected joints. Thus 99mTc-HIG scintigraphy seems to be useful in the early detection of psoriatic arthropathy and also in advanced psoriatic arthritis, as well as for the detection of psoriatic arthropathy without skin lesions.