Open AccessTechnetium counting in rheumatoid arthritis evaluation in the small joints of the hand
Author(s) -
Sturrock R. D.,
Nicholson Rosemary,
Wojtulewski J. A.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780170412
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , vascularity , medicine , technetium , nuclear medicine , penicillamine , scintigraphy , interphalangeal joint , radiology , surgery
An apparatus is described for external directional technetium counting of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the hand. In 11 normal and 14 rheumatoid subjects a significantly higher count rate was reached in the rheumatoid group (t = 3.79 P < 0.005). There was a good correlation between the rate of uptake and total count rate of technetium over an inflamed joint and this was taken to demonstrate the importance of the effect of vascularity on technetium kinetics. Clinical improvement following gold and penicillamine therapy was reflected in a fall in count rates which closely paralleled a reduction in ring sizes.