Korean J Nucl Med.  2004 Dec;38(6):506-510.

Evaluation of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis by Tc-99m MIBI Imaging

• Cho IH
• Chun KA
• Hong YH
• Lee CK
• Ha JH

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.

Keyword

Rheumatoid arthritis; Tc-99m MIBI; DMARDs

MeSH Terms

Antirheumatic Agents
Arthritis, Rheumatoid*
Blood Sedimentation
C-Reactive Protein
Female
Humans
Joints
Male
Antirheumatic Agents
C-Reactive Protein