RAPID CLEARANCE OF I-131 MIBG FROM THE HEART AND LIVER OF PATIENTS WITH ADRENERGIC DYSFUNCTION AND PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (4) , 357-365
Abstract
Iodine-131 MIBG [iodobenzylguanidine], a radiolabeled adrenergic neuron-blocking agent, decreased rapidly from the heart and liver of patients with adrenergic dysfunction (n = 3) and pheochromocytoma (n = 2) when compared with 8 controls. The 4-h activity expressed as percentages (mean .+-. SD) of the 20-min counts were as follows: 80 .+-. 3.0% in the controls compared with 60 .+-. 7.6% in the patients over the heart (P < 0.01) and 79 .+-. 3.2% in the controls compared with 51 .+-. 17% in the patients over the liver (P < 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in the rate of [131I]MIBG decrease in these organs between controls and patients in the intervals subsequent to 4 h (P > 0.05). Adrenergic neuronal uptake of [131I]MIBG in these organs apparently is smaller in the patients than in the controls. Measurements of time-activity relationships of radioiodinated MIBG may be useful for assessment of adrenergic function of these organs and thus of generalized disorders of adrenergic innervation.