In Graves' disease, changes in orbital tissue and structure are casued by inflammatory infiltation, which induces increase of capillary permeability and breakdown of blood-tissue barriers. Using the uptake of Tc-99m-DTPA in inflammatory lesion, Eye/Br...
In Graves' disease, changes in orbital tissue and structure are casued by inflammatory infiltation, which induces increase of capillary permeability and breakdown of blood-tissue barriers. Using the uptake of Tc-99m-DTPA in inflammatory lesion, Eye/Brain radioactivity ratios in brain scintigraphy were evaluated in 15 normal controls and 40 Graves' patients.
The results were as follows;
1) Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio was significantly higher in Graves' ophthalmopthy group than in control group (p〈0.005).
2) In Graves' ophthalmopathy, Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio was significantly higher in active (progressive) group than in inactive (non-progressive) group (p〈0.05).
3) There was no correlation between class of ATA classification of Graves' ophthalmopathy and Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio.
4) There was no correlation between Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio and serum activity of TBII.
In conclusion, Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio using Tc-99m-DTPA brain scintigraphy may be useful to determine the activity of Gves' ophthalmopathy and whether treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy is necessary or not.