TC-99M HUMAN-IMMUNOGLOBULIN (HIG) - A NEW SUBSTANCE FOR SCINTIGRAPHICDETECTION OF BONE AND JOINT INFECTIONS

Technetium (99m-Tc)-labelled, polyclonal human immunoglobulin (HIG) ha s been described as a new agent to detect local infection and inflamma tion, In this study, we tested 99m-Tc HIG in 55 patients with suspecte d chronic (n = 42) and acute (n = 13) skeletal infection. Diagnosis wa s proven operatively(n = 44) and clinically (n = 11), including microb iological culture tests (n = 46). A gamma camera scan was performed 4 and 24 hours after i.v. injection of 500 MBq 99m-Tc-HIG. 99m-Tc-HIG sc anning achieved a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 93%. We foun d one false negative and five false positive scintigraphic results in 55 patients. No clinical or biochemical side effects were encountered after 99m-Tc-HIG injection. We recommend this technique especially for localisation of low-grade, chronic osteomyelitis. The mechanisms and kinetics of 99m-Tc-HIG, however, are worth investigating more extensiv ely. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.