Biokinetics and estimation of dose from 99mTc-labelled polyclonal human immunoglobulin (HIG)

Recently, polyclonal unspecific human immunoglobulin was suggested as a new agent for the localization of inflammatory lesions. Little information about the biodistribution of this radiopharmaceutical was reported so far. To obtain further information, 99mTc-labelled human immunoglobulin (HIG) was administered to a volunteer with presumed normal biokinetics. The absorbed doses to the organs were calculated according to the MIRD concept. The scintigraphic images at 1, 2, 4 and 24 h post injection demonstrated a prolonged activity retention in the blood and high activity in the kidneys, bladder and also in the liver. No significant uptake in the bowels and the marrow could be observed over the whole period of study. 27.4% of the administered activity was excreted in the urine within 24 h. The calculated organ absorbed doses, all in microGy/MBq, were estimated as follows: whole body 2.7, liver 7.3, spleen 12.0, kidneys 15.3, lungs 3.2, marrow 9.6 and gonads 17.0. From these results an effective dose equivalent of 7.9 x 10(-3) mSv/MBq was calculated. The cancer risk estimate of 5 x 10(-5), using 370 MBq 99mTc-HIG, may be considered quite low in comparison to other scintigraphic methods of diagnosing inflammation.