The non-conventional use of 99mTc-Tetrofosmine for dynamic hepatobiliary scintigraphy

BACKGROUND: Classic dynamic hepatobiliary scintigraphy (DHBS) is commonly performed with 99mTc-Iminodiacetic Acid (IDA) derivatives and represents a non-invasive diagnosis method for biliary dyskinesia, fistulas, surgical anastomosis, etc (1). This study assesses the possibility of performing DHBS with 99mTc-Tetrofosmine (TF), a radiopharmaceutical (RF) dedicated to myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS), but being excreted through the liver. The possibility to use 99mTc-TF for DHBS may be important in situations when the standardized RF for this procedure (IDA derivatives) is not available. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed DHBS for 30 patients referred for investigation by internal medicine and surgery departments. The patients had been fasting for12 hours. The dynamic investigation started simultaneously with the intravenous (IV) administration of 37–110 MBq (1–3 mCi) 99mTc-TF. Dynamic images were recorded for 30–45 minutes, one image per minute, followed by static scintigraphy at 1 h, 1.5 h, 2 h, and 3 h after IV injection. RESULTS: The quality of scintigraphic images of the liver and biliary tree obtained at DHBS with 99mTc-TF ensured the correct diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia, stasis, stenosis, and fistulas. CONCLUSIONS: DHBS using 99mTc-TF is justified by the image quality and by the good cost/benefits ratio. Because the IDA derivatives are not always available, this finding may be important for medical practice. 99mTc-TF evacuated through the bile duct allows DHBS interpretation, while the necessary dose is approximately 8 to 20 times smaller than that used for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Nuclear Med Rev 2011; 14, 2: 79–8

Interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 in chronic hepatitis C: Correlations with insulin resistance, histological features & sustained virological response

Background & objectives: One of the multiple factors contributing to virological response in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10). Its level reflects the status of interferon-stimulated genes, which in turn is associated with virological response to antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of serum IP-10 levels on sustained virological response (SVR) and the association of this parameter with insulin resistance (IR) and liver histology. Methods: Two hundred and three consecutive biopsy proven CHC patients were included in the study. Serum levels of IP-10 were determined using ELISA method. IR was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR). Histological features were assessed invasively by liver biopsy and noninvasively using FibroTest, ActiTest and SteatoTest. Predictive factors for SVR and their interrelations were assessed. Results: A cut-off value for IP-10 of 392 pg/ml was obtained to discriminate between responders and non-responders. SVR was obtained in 107 patients (52.70%). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for SVR was 0.875 with a sensitivity of 91.6 per cent, specificity 74.7 per cent, positive predictive value 80.3 per cent and negative predictive value 88.7 per cent. Higher values of IP-10 were associated with increasing stages of fibrosis (P<0.01) and higher grades of inflammation (P=0.02, P=0.07) assessed morphologically and noninvasively through FibroTest and ActiTest. Significant steatosis and IR were also associated with increased levels of IP-10 (P=0.01 and P=0.02). In multivariate analysis, IP-10 levels and fibrosis stages were independently associated with SVR. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings showed that the assessment of serum IP-10 level could be a predictive factor for SVR and it was associated with fibrosis, necroinflammatory activity, significant steatosis and IR in patients with chronic HCV infection

Prospective Non-Invasive Follow-up of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic hepatitis C

Abstract Background: Non-invasive methods for the assessment of liver fibrosis are accurate in staging chronic liver diseases before treatment. Aim

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Chronic

Background: The prediction of fibrosis is an essential part of the assessment and management of patients with chronic liver disease. Non-invasive tests (NITs) have a number of advantages over the traditional standard of fibrosis assessment by liver biopsy, including safety, cost-effectiveness, and widespread accessibility. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of certain biomarkers and transient elastography (TE) alone or in combination to predict the stage of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Also, we examined whether the combination of certain biomarkers and TE could increase the diagnostic accuracy of liver fibrosis assessment. Patients and Method: A total of 446 patients who were previously diagnosed with CHC were included in the study. In the study group, 6 blood-based scores (APRI, Forns, Fib-4, Hepascore, FibroTest, and Fibrometer) were calculated, and TE was performed to validate the stage of fibrosis, compared with liver biopsy (LB) as the standard. Results: Significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2) was predicted with an AUROC of 0.727, 0.680, 0.714, 0.778, 0.688, 0.797, and 0.751 for the APRI, Forns, Fib-4, FibroTest, Hepascore, and Fibromete