We evaluated the usefulness of hepatic receptor imaging with 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) to establish the diagnosis and prognosis of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF).
Methods: Of the 20 patients, 8 had acute hepatitis and 12 had FHF. Computer acquisition of gamma-camera data started just before the injection of 185 MBq 99mTc-GSA and stopped 20 min later. Time-activity curves for the heart and liver were generated from regions of interest (ROIs) for the whole liver and precordium. A receptor index was calculated by division of the radioactivity of the liver ROI by that of the liver plus heart ROIs 15 min after the injection. An index of blood clearance was calculated by division of the radioactivity of the heart ROI at 15 min by that of the heart ROI 5 min after the injection.
Results: The receptor index was less than 0.83 in all patients with FHF, but it was more than 0.83 in all patients with acute hepatitis. The index of blood clearance was more than 0.72 in all patients with FHF but less than 0.72 in all patients with acute hepatitis. All six survivors of FHF had receptor indices of 0.58 or more, but in five of the six patients who later died, the receptor index was 0.58 or less. The index of blood clearance was 0.85 or less in all survivors but 0.85 or more in the same five patients who later died.
Conclusion: Hepatic receptor imaging with 99mTc-GSA facilitated the evaluation of hepatic function reserve and was useful in establishing the diagnosis and prognosis of FHF.