PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Chantal P. Bleeker-Rovers AU - Huub J.J.M. Rennen AU - Otto C. Boerman AU - Ate B. Wymenga AU - Eric P. Visser AU - Johannes H. Bakker AU - Jos W.M. van der Meer AU - Frans H.M. Corstens AU - Wim J.G. Oyen TI - <sup>99m</sup>Tc-Labeled Interleukin 8 for the Scintigraphic Detection of Infection and Inflammation: First Clinical Evaluation DP - 2007 Mar 01 TA - Journal of Nuclear Medicine PG - 337--343 VI - 48 IP - 3 4099 - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/48/3/337.short 4100 - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/48/3/337.full SO - J Nucl Med2007 Mar 01; 48 AB - Interleukin 8 (IL-8) is a chemotactic cytokine that binds with a high affinity to receptors expressed on neutrophils. Previous studies with various animal models showed that 99mTc-labeled IL-8 accumulates specifically and rapidly in infectious and inflammatory foci. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the safety of IL-8 in humans and to assess the value of 99mTc-IL-8 scintigraphy in patients with suspected localized infections. Methods: 99mTc-IL-8 was intravenously injected at 400 MBq into 20 patients with various suspected localized infections. Patients were monitored for IL-8–related side effects for 4 h. Whole-body imaging was performed directly after injection and at 4 h after injection. Imaging after 24 h was performed for the first 7 patients and for subsequent patients when the results of 99mTc-IL-8 scintigraphy at 4 h after injection were normal or equivocal. Blood was drawn at several time points to determine the total number of leukocytes and leukocyte differentiation (all patients) and to determine pharmacokinetics (6 patients). Results: 99mTc-IL-8 scintigraphy was performed for 20 patients (13 men and 7 women) with a mean age of 60 y (range, 21–76 y). No significant side effects were noted. Patients had suspected joint prosthesis infections (n = 9), osteomyelitis (n = 8), liver abscess (n = 1), and soft-tissue infections (n = 2). 99mTc-IL-8 was rapidly cleared from the blood and most other organs. In 10 of 12 patients with infections, 99mTc-IL-8 localized the infection at 4 h after injection. In 1 patient with vertebral osteomyelitis and in 1 patient with an infected knee prosthesis, 99mTc-IL-8 scintigraphy results were false-negative. In 8 patients with noninfectious disorders, no focal accumulation of 99mTc-IL-8 was found. Conclusion: Injection of 99mTc-IL-8 is well tolerated. 99mTc-IL-8 scintigraphy is a promising new tool for the detection of infections in patients as early as 4 h after injection.