Platelet imaging of thromboembolism. Natural history of postoperative deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism illustrated using the 111In-labelled platelet-specific monoclonal antibody, P256

BACKGROUND: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolic disease are difficult to diagnose, particularly following surgery. This report demonstrates the use of 111In-labelled platelet-specific monoclonal antibody, P256 Fab', for the diagnosis and study of the time course of thromboembolic disease in a patient following total hip replacement. METHOD: One hundred micrograms of pentetic acid (DTPA)-P256 Fab' was labelled with 8 to 10 MBq of 111In chloride by incubation at room temperature for 15 min. After dilution in physiologic saline, the tracer was injected intravenously on the third and sixth days postoperatively. Imaging of the chest, pelvis, and legs was carried out at 24, 48 and 72 h following each injection. RESULTS: The first image four days after surgery demonstrated activity in the right heart which moved to the right pulmonary artery on the following day. Activity was seen in both femoral veins; on the left, this increased over two days, followed by a reduction on the seventh day after surgery, at which time new activity was seen in the right heart. After a further two days, this activity moved to the left pulmonary artery. The DVT was confirmed by venography and the pulmonary embolism (PE) by ventilation perfusion scan. CONCLUSIONS: 111Indium-labelled platelet-specific monoclonal antibody, P256 Fab', provides a technique for studying the natural history of thromboembolic disease and its treatment.