Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2026
Low Molecular Weight Protein Enrichment on Mesoporous Silica Thin Films for Biomarker Discovery
Published on: April 17, 2012
99mTc-human serum albumin scans in children with protein-losing enteropathy
H Halaby1, S M Bakheet, S Shabib
1Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
99mTc-human serum albumin (HSA) scans are effective for diagnosing protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) in children. This diagnostic imaging method helps identify enteric protein loss, aiding in the evaluation of hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a condition characterized by excessive protein loss into the gastrointestinal tract.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and treatment of PLE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of technetium-99m-labeled human serum albumin (99mTc-HSA) scintigraphy in children with suspected protein-losing enteropathy.
- To assess the correlation between scan findings and clinical severity of PLE.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 99mTc-HSA scans in 18 children consecutively diagnosed with PLE.
- Analysis of early dynamic and delayed imaging for abnormal tracer uptake in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Correlation of scan results with patient demographics, clinical presentation, laboratory values, and final diagnoses.
Main Results:
- 99mTc-HSA scans showed abnormal enteric uptake in 12 out of 18 children, consistent with PLE.
- Abnormal uptake was predominantly localized in the small bowel and colon.
- Patients with abnormal scans exhibited significantly lower serum albumin, total protein, gammaglobulin, and calcium levels compared to those with normal scans.
- Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia was the most common diagnosis in patients with abnormal scans.
Conclusions:
- 99mTc-HSA scintigraphy is a valuable tool for diagnosing protein-losing enteropathy in pediatric patients.
- The scan is particularly useful in identifying significant enteric protein loss, especially in cases of severe hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia.
- This imaging modality aids in characterizing the extent and location of protein loss, supporting etiological diagnosis.
Unlabelled:
Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) can be diagnosed scintigraphically using 99mTc-human serum albumin (HSA) scans.
Methods:
To evaluate the usefulness of this method in detecting enteric protein loss, we retrospectively reviewed the 99mTc-HSA scans of 18 children presenting consecutively with PLE.
Results:
Enteric 99mTc-HSA uptake was noted in 12 patients (8 boys, 4 girls) with a mean age of 7.4 y. Early dynamic images showed abdominal uptake that was most likely in the small bowel in 91% of the scans. Delayed images showed abnormal accumulation that was localized in the colon in 73% and in the small bowel in 27% of the scans. A 4-mo follow-up scan obtained in 3 patients showed reduced HSA uptake after a high-protein, low-fat, medium-chain triglyceride oil-based diet and fat-soluble vitamins. Mean serum albumin, total protein, gammaglobulin, and calcium levels were significantly decreased. Ten patients (from 4 families) were diagnosed to have primary intestinal lymphangectasia. One patient had active Salmonella enterocolitis, and 1 had giardiosis. 99mTc-HSA was normal in the remaining 6 patients (3 boys, 3 girls) with a mean age of 3.5 y (range, 2-5 y). Mean serum albumin, total protein, gammaglobulin, and calcium levels were less decreased than those of the first group. Five of these patients had primary intestinal lymphangactesia (associated with infantile systemic hyalinosis in 1 patient). The remaining patient had normal duodenal biopsy, and the cause of protein loss remained unknown.
Conclusion:
The 99mTc-HSA scan is useful in the evaluation of children with PLE, especially those with severe hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia, presumably reflecting a high rate of protein loss.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Overview of Protein Metabolism
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
01:26Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management
01:24Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests