VALUE OF GA-67 SCINTIGRAPHY IN MONITORING THE RENAL ACTIVITY IN LUPUSNEPHRITIS

In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the gallium uptak e in the kidneys and the results of renal biopsy. The renal uptake of gallium in 32 patients with lupus nephritis were evaluated according t o the classification of the World Health Organization, the activity in dex (AI), and the chronicity index (CI). AI was significantly higher i n patients with a positive gallium scan when compared with patients wi th a negative gallium scan (p = 0.0007). However, change in gallium up take was not related to the CI or WHO classification (p = 0.68 and p = 0.79 respectively). Of the 16 patients with AI greater than or equal to 9, 13 (81.25%) had a positive gallium scan, while only 3 (18.7%) of the patients with AI < 9 had a positive scan. In addition, all patien ts (100%) with AI greater than or equal to 11 showed a positive galliu m scan. We conclude that renal imaging with gallium has a good correla tion with AI, and may be a useful alternative to renal biopsy in patie nts with lupus nephritis.