technetium-tc-99m-medronate and Graves-Ophthalmopathy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of immunosuppressive agents, 99Tc-MDP and both of them in treating patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy(GO). The efficacy was evaluated by randomized controlled trial involving a total of 66 patients. In 22 patients treated with immunosuppressive agents, the general efficacy rate was 19/22, the incidence rate of serious side-effect was 8/22. In 20 patients treated with 99Tc-MDP, the general efficacy rate was 17/20, the incidence rate of serious side-effect was 2/20. In 24 patients treated with immunosuppressive agents and 99Tc-MDP, the general efficacy rate was 22/24, the incidence rate of serious side-effect was 2/24. The results suggested that in the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy, when satisfactory efficacy was obtained, the serious side-effect and 'rebound' of symptom could be avoided by using immunosuppressive agents in combination with 99Tc-MDP.

Topics: Graves Ophthalmopathy; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

To explore the effects of technetium-99 methylenediphosphonate (99Tc-MDP) on cell proliferation, hyaluronic acid (HA) synthesis and the expressions of human leucocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on cultured retro-ocular fibroblasts (RFs) from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy.. After two to seven passages, cultured RFs were incubated for 72 h with interferon-γ (100 U/ml), interleukin-1 (100 U/ml) or tumour necrosis factor-α (100 U/ml) in the presence of 99Tc-MDP. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the expression of HLA-DR and ICAM-1. RF proliferation was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation assay. HA synthesis was measured by radioimmunoassay.. At base conditions, the percentage of positive cells of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 on RFs was 6.70±3.06% and 5.29±3.02%, respectively, and the synthesis of HA was 337.8±42.7 ng/ml. Compared with basal values, 72-h incubation with cytokine significantly enhanced the expression of HLA-DR and ICAM-1, and HA synthesis. 99Tc-MDP (1 ng/ml) had little effect on cytokine-induced HLA-DR and ICAM-1 expression, and HA synthesis. When the concentration ranged from 10 to 100 ng/ml, 99Tc-MDP inhibited cytokine-induced RF activation in a dose-dependent manner. 99Tc-MDP also inhibited the proliferation of RFs in a dose-dependent manner. It was also found that 99Tc-MDP had the same effect on cytokine-induced RFs and skin fibroblasts from patients with normal individual conditions.. 99Tc-MDP could inhibit cytokine-induced activation of RFs derived from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Cell Proliferation; Cytokines; Eye; Fibroblasts; Gene Expression Regulation; Graves Ophthalmopathy; HLA-DR Antigens; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Male; Skin; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate