THE ROLE OF GA-67 WHOLE-BODY SCINTIGRAPHY IN SECONDARY INFECTIONS IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

Introduction: Secondary infections in HIV-positive patients are a majo r cause of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of these secondary infections is the key to successful treatment and survival. The role of Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy is established as a screening method for opportunistic pneumonia. However, few reports have focused on abdomin al Ga-67 imaging and there have been none from the Middle East. Object ives: This study was designed to assess the role of Ga-67 citrate whol e body scintigraphy (Ga-67 WBS) for detection of secondary infections in symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV-positive patients. Methods: Thirty -one Ga-67 Wbs studies were performed on 28 HIV-positive patients; of whom 7 were asymptomatic and 21 were symptomatic. Results: Ga-67 WBS s tudies were normal in the 7 asymptomatic patients. Abnormal Ga-67 WBS studies were obtained in 9 patients with myocobacteria, in 4 with pneu moncystis carinii, and in 6 with other organisms. Ga-67 WBS studies we re normal in 3 patients with salmonella infection. In the symptomatic group as a whole, 18 (75%) showed abnormal abdominal uptake whereas on ly 12 (50%) showed abnormal chest uptake. WBS for the detection of abd ominal sites of secondary infections were 84% and 83% respectively, th e positive predictive value was 88%, the negative predictive value was 70% and the accuracy was 81%. The examination is very useful in local izing the sites of infections in symptomatic patients.