IMAGING OF EARLY CAROTID-ARTERY ATHEROSCL EROTIC LESIONS WITH IN-111-LABELED POLYCLONAL HUMAN-IGG (HIG)

Aim: To assess the value of scintigraphy with (111)ln-HIG for diagnosi s and evaluation of the stage and the clinical extent of carotid arter y disease in humans a prospective clinical comparative trial of scinti graphy vs. sonography was performed. Methods: 58 patients (38 male, 20 female, mean age 60 +/- 7 years) with hyperlipidemia and ultrasonogra phically detectable carotid artery lesions were studied. After i.v. in jection of 18.5 MBq In-111-HIG, anterior scintigraphic images of the n eck were acquired. Real time two-dimensional B-mode ultrasonography of the left and the right carotid arteries was performed. Results: In-11 1-HIG-scintigraphy as compared to the morphological gold standard (ult rasonography) had a sensitivity of 70-73%, specificity of 33-41% and a positive predictive value of 77-82% for detecting carotid atheroscler otic lesions. There was, however, no significant correlation between s cintigraphy and ultrasonography. Conclusion: However, the data provide evidence that the two imaging techniques are visualizing different as pects of atherogenesis. On the one hand a functional one reflecting th e activity of the disease (In-111-HIG) and on the other hand the morph ological one resembling the extent of the disease (ultrasonography).