99mTc-HMPAO labelled white blood cell scintigraphy in the diagnosis and monitoring of response of the therapy in patients with active bronchiectasis

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the role of labelled leukocyte scintigraphy in the diagnosis and monitorization of response to therapy of patients with active bronchiectasis. Material and methods: Twenty patients underwent 99mTechnetium hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) labelledwhite blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy. A second scintigraphywas performed in 13 patients at 10 day of the treatment. Regional 99mTc-HMPAOWBC uptake and radiologic imaging findings (high resolution computed tomography or Chest X-Ray) in the lungs were classified into 3 categories in 6 lung areas. scintigraphic, radiological and clinical disease scores were calculated for all patients. Results: Anabnormal accumulationwas visually observed in 19 of 20patients on the pre-treatment scans, the scintigraphy showing 95% sensitivity. A significant differencewas found between early and late ratios (P=0.001) in the pre-treatment scans. The infected areas revealed a significant decrease in uptake ratios on the post-treatment scans compared to the pre-treatment scans (P=0.001). However, no significant correlationwas determined between clinical and radiological scores, clinical and scintigraphic scores and also between scintigraphic and radiological scores (P≥0.05). Conclusions: 99mTc-HMPAO WBC scintigraphy may be a useful tool to evaluate response to therapy in patients with active bronchiectasis. © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. and SEMNIM. All rights reserved. Gammagrafía con leucocitos marcados con Tc-HMPAO en el diagnóstico y monitorización de la respuesta al tratamiento en pacientes con bronquiectasias activas Palabras clave: 99mTc-HMPAO Leucocitos