TECHNETIUM TC 99M HEXAMETHYL PROPYLENE AMINE OXINE LEUKOCYTE SCINTIGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH ULCERATIVE-COLITIS - CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL, BIOLOGIC, ENDOSCOPIC, AND PATHOLOGICAL INTENSITY, AND LOCAL RELEASE OFINTERLEUKIN-8

Background: Technetium Tc 99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxine (Tc-99m -HMPAO) has been used to radiolabel leukocytes with promising results for its clinical use in inflammatory bowel disease. During active ulce rative colitis, colonoscopy is indicated to determine the extent and t he intensity of the disease for proper management. The aim of this pro spective study was to determine whether Tc-99m-HMPAO-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy can give information similar to that obtained with colon oscopy during acute attacks of ulcerative colitis. Methods: Thirty-thr ee consecutive patients with 50 acute episodes of ulcerative colitis u nderwent Tc-99m-HMPAO scintigraphy and colonoscopy with biopsies. Scin tigraphic determination of disease extent and intensity were compared with those obtained by colonoscopy with biopsies and clinico-biologic markers. Results: The scintigraphic index of disease intensity was cor related with endoscopic index, Truelove index, biologic markers, and l ocal release of interleukin-8. The extent measured by scintigraphy was well correlated to the endoscopic and histologic extent. Conclusions: Tc-99m-HMPAO scintigraphy accurately determines the extent and the in tensity of acute ulcerative colitis lesions. This noninvasive method c an specify the extent and the intensity of an acute attack in patients with previously known ulcerative colitis.