IMAGING OF DIALYSIS-RELATED AMYLOID DEPOSITS WITH IODINE-123-LABELED SERUM AMYLOID-P COMPONENT

Dialysis-related arthropathy is a major complication of long-term dial ysis. The diagnosis can be suspected on the basis of clinical and radi ological features. Histological studies are not consistently positive. Serum amyloid P component labelled with 123-iodine (I-123-SAP) has be en used to demonstrate amyloid deposits in patients with systemic amyl oidosis. Few data have been reported with this method in hemodialysis- related amyloidosis. In eight patients with dialysis-related arthropat hy, we detected foci of increased I-123-SAP. There were few visceral d eposits and the tracer did not accumulate in the spine or hips. Specif icity was poor, as in the only other relevant study in the literature. Findings were strikingly different from those reported in AA or AL am yloidosis. I-123-SAP imaging may be a useful tool for diagnosing and m onitoring dialysis-related amyloid disease but may miss amyloid deposi ts in some sites.