Radiolabelling of platelets with technetium-99m.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Hematology
• Radiopharmacology

Background:

• Platelet labeling is crucial for diagnosing thromboembolic diseases.
• Existing methods may cause significant platelet damage, affecting diagnostic accuracy.
• Development of a robust and minimally damaging platelet labeling technique is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel method for labeling autologous platelets with technetium-99m (Tc-99m).
• To assess the efficiency and safety of the labeling procedure by evaluating platelet integrity.
• To determine the clinical utility of Tc-99m labeled platelets in detecting thromboembolic events.

Main Methods:

• Platelets were isolated and labeled using Tc-99m in conjunction with aminobenzoic acid and tartaric acid.
• Platelet damage was assessed by measuring residual aggregational ability and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) release.
• The incorporation efficiency of Tc-99m into platelets was quantified.
• A pilot clinical study was conducted in 28 patients to evaluate diagnostic efficacy.

Main Results:

• The method achieved a Tc-99m incorporation of 32.6 +/- 2.7% into platelets.
• Labeled platelets retained significant functional capacity, with 66 +/- 15% residual aggregational ability and 79 +/- 17% residual beta-TG.
• The pilot study demonstrated the usefulness of Tc-99m labeled autologous platelets in detecting lung embolism and deep vein thrombosis.

Conclusions:

• A reliable method for labeling platelets with Tc-99m has been established, minimizing platelet damage.
• The developed radiolabeling technique preserves platelet function, making it suitable for clinical applications.
• Tc-99m labeled autologous platelets are a valuable tool for the non-invasive diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and lung embolism.