IMAGING ENDOCARDITIS WITH TC-99M-LABELED ANTIBODY - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY - CONCISE COMMUNICATION

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (3) , 229-234
Abstract
The sensitivity and specificity of 99mTc-labeled antibacterial antibody (99mTc Ab) for detecting bacterial endocarditis were evaluated in an experimental model. Rabbit-produced antistaphylococcal antibody was extracted using Rivanol and chemically labeled with 99mTc. This 99mTc Ab was injected i.v. in New Zealand rabbits 24 h after producing Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis of the aortic valve. Imaging and tissue analyses were performed on the following day. All 11 animals developed S. aureus aortic-valve vegetations and showed increased uptake of 99mTc Ab at the aortic valve, 118 times higher than at the uninfected tricuspid valve. Although high hepatic radioactivity and anatomic uncertainties interfered with in vivo delineation of these lesions, images of the excised hearts showed all affected valves. Two rabbits inoculated with Escherichia coli did not develop endocarditis and had little uptake of 99mTc Ab; 6 rabbits with enterococcal endocarditis had no uptake of the 99mTc in their vegetations. The potential value of 99mTc Ab in the rapid diagnosis of endocarditis was suggested.