pyrophosphate and Myositis

[99mTc]-pyrophosphate (PYP) and [201Tl]-chloride dual isotope single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is now available to detect the site and extent of acute myocardial infarction. In inflammatory myocardial disease, [99mTc]PYP makes hot image on damaged area. We performed dual isotope SPECT of [99mTc]PYP and [201Tl]Cl in two patients with acute myocarditis and severe rhythm disturbance to evaluate the severity of inflammation. Myocardial damage was estimated by [201Tl] perfusion coloring blue and myocardial inflammation was estimated by [99mTc]PYP uptake coloring red. The overlap display of both images made it clear to detect spatial extent of myocardial inflammation. Using this technique, we expect to estimate the severity of myocarditis and to make a decision of therapeutic plan.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Diphosphates; Female; Heart; Humans; Myositis; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate; Thallium; Thallium Radioisotopes; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Topics: Aged; Cardiomyopathies; Diphosphates; Electrocardiography; Female; Heart; Humans; Myositis; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate

Thirteen patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 8 patients with polymyositis, and 6 patients with spondylitis ankylopoetica (Bechterew's disease) underwent clinical cardiologic examination and scintigraphy of the myocardium (99mTc-pyrophosphate), ECG, echocardiography, polygraphy, and their blood pressure was taken. The aim of the study was to ascertain how such a combination of non-invasive examinations can help in recognizing a cardiac involvement. In systemic lupus erythematosus cases one or more positive findings were revealed in 9 patients (69%), in 4 patients all examinations were negative (31%). Four patients (50%) with polymyositis had positive findings. In patients with spondylitis ankylopoetica positive findings occurred in 2 cases (33%). The study has shown that a combination of non-invasive cardiologic methods increases the probability of detecting cardiac involvement in systemic connective tissue diseases.

Topics: Cardiomyopathies; Connective Tissue Diseases; Diphosphates; Electrocardiography; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Myositis; Radionuclide Imaging; Spondylitis, Ankylosing; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate

Technetium-99M pyrophosphate (TcPYP) nuclear scans of extremities were performed on 15 patients at 10 minutes and 2 hours after isotope injection. Scans were carried out both to confirm the diagnosis of myositis and to direct subsequent muscle biopsy. Five of six patients with clinical features strongly suggestive of inflammatory muscle disease had positive scans. All muscle biopsies performed at areas of increased isotope uptake showed inflammatory muscle disease. All nine patients not suspected of active inflammatory muscle disease had negative scans. Two of these underwent muscle biopsy with negative results. Our observations suggest that TcPYP muscle scans may be useful both to confirm the clinical suspicion of inflammatory muscle disease and in directing the choice of site for muscle biopsy.

Topics: Biopsy; Diphosphates; Humans; Muscles; Myositis; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate

99mTechnetium pyrophosphate (99mTc PYP) muscular scanning was carried out in 28 patients affected by neuromuscular diseases. To express the muscle tracer retention quantitatively, the soft tissue to bone uptake ratio was calculated in the thigh and in the lower leg. Significantly increased ratio values were found in all the patients with polymyositis and in most patients with different types of muscular dystrophy, while high values were seen in a few subjects with myasthenia gravis and with neurogenic disorders. These findings are compared with those of previous studies, and the factors playing a role in determining some discrepant observations are discussed. The use of 99mTc muscular scanning in the investigation of patients with suspected inflammatory myopathy is suggested.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Diphosphates; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscles; Muscular Dystrophies; Myositis; Neuromuscular Diseases; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate

Topics: Abscess; Child; Diphosphates; Gallium Radioisotopes; Humans; Male; Myositis; Radionuclide Imaging; Streptococcal Infections; Technetium; Thigh; Ultrasonography