Scintigraphic evaluation of disease activity in rheumatiod arthritis

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken in a trial to assess the activity of RA in the Joints through using[99] Tc[m] HMPAO scintigraphy. Also, to investigate the repeatability of this technique and the correlation between the labeled white cell uptake, pain, inflammation and joint destruction. Twenty-nine RA patients were subjected to scanning on the first visit and 18 of them have been for a second visit. The score of pain and inflammation of the knee joint was rated using the visual analogue scale [VAS] of pain and inflammation by the patients. 99Tcm HMPAO labeled white cell uptake was estimated in each knee on both visits. The joint was measured on both imaging occasions. Joint destruction of the knee was measured by scoring the joint x-Ray using Larson's score. The data obtained were analyzed using the Pearson correlation analysis to estimate the correlation of the mean white cell uptake in the joints with other disease activity parameters are presented followed by the scatter plot of the mean white cell uptake in the joints against the significantly correlated variables. Pain correlated with objective measures of inflammation [labeled white cell uptake] and with the degree of joint destruction. There was no correlation with either x-ray scores or white cell uptake in the depressed patients