THE USE OF TC-99M HEXAMETHYLPROPYLENE AMINE OXIME LABELED GRANULOCYTES WITH SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING THE DETECTION AND FOLLOW-UP OF RECURRENCE OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS COMPLICATING TRANSVENOUS ENDOCARDIAL PACEMAKER

In this case report we present a patient with a recurrence of subacute bacterial infectious endocarditis (IE) complicating a transvenous end ocardial pacemaker. Technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (Tc -99m-HMPAO) labelled granulocytes were used for diagnosis and follow-u p under medical treatment only, since surgical removal of the pacemake r lead was ruled out because of the general condition of the patient. Single-photon emission tomography (SPET) imaging displayed the active lesion previously suspected on echography. At the end of antibiotic th erapy, SPET indicated a favourable disease outcome whereas echocardiog raphic abnormalities remained nearly unchanged. The medical treatment had eradicated the IE, and the patient did well for more than 1 year t hereafter.