Accumulation of 99mTc Labeled Renal Agents in Experimental Abscesses

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the feasibility of imaging inflammatory lesions with some renal agents such as 99mTc labeled gluconate (G), glucoheptonate (GH) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) in comparison to 99mTc-human immunogamma globulin (HIG).
The biodistributions of all the four radio-pharmaceuticals (RP's) were determined in mice with turpentineinduced abscesses at 1, 3, 6 and 24 hrs post-injection of 15 MBq in 0.1 ml solution of each RP. The % uptake/g tissues and abscess (A) over muscle (A/M), blood (A/B), liver (A/L), intestine (A/I) and kidney (A/K) concentration ratios were calculated. The scintigraphic images of all mice were obtained by a gamma camera.
The abscesses were well visualized with all the RP's. The excretion was mainly via the kidneys except for 99mTc-HIG which showed variable amounts of liver and kidney uptake. Similar A/M ratios were obtained, reaching a maximum at 6 hrs with 99mTc- DMSA and 24 hrs with the others. The maximum values were 5.21±1.24, 3.60±0.52, 4.19±1.39 and 5.98±1.17 with 99mTc-G, -GH, -DMSA and -HIG, respectively.
Our results indicated that 99mTc renal agents can be used in imaging inflammation. They are preferred to 99mTc-HIG, because of rapid blood clearance, excretion predominantly via the kidneys, no significant uptake by other organs, low cost and easy availability.