Technetium-99m labelled polyclonal human IgG scintigraphy before and 26 weeks after initiation of parenteral gold treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective: To determine effectiveness of technetium-99m labelled polyclonal human immunoglobulin G (99mTc-IgG) scintigraphy to monitor variation in arthritis activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The results of semiquantitative 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy were compared with those of examination before and 26 weeks after initiation of parenteral gold treatment in 19 patients with RA.

Results: Clinical and laboratory variables of arthritis activity as well as the scores of 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy were significantly lower after gold treatment compared to the scores before treatment. However, the difference between the mean scores of 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy before and after treatment was statistically significant for more joints than such difference in scores for joint pain and joint swelling.

Conclusion: 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy is able to reflect variations in arthritis activity in patients with RA.