RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a new tool for the early detection of inflammatory joint diseases using fluorescence imaging in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral range following the intravenous administration of an unspecific contrast agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A laser-supported system for fluorescence imaging of finger joints was designed and constructed. Five patients and a corresponding number of volunteers were examined using 0.1 mg/kg by weight of indocyanine green as an unspecific contrast agent. Fluorescence images were acquired continuously over a period of 15 minutes. As a control, 1 day before optical imaging, all patients and volunteers underwent contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 0.2 T. On the basis of MRI findings, all examined joints were divided into four groups: no change and mild, moderate, and severe synovitis. The emitted fluorescence photons were quantified in different regions of interest covering the finger joints and finger tips. The normalized fluorescence intensity of contrast agents was compared with MRI findings as a proven standard. RESULTS: NIR dyes of the cyanine class are enriched in inflammatory joints and show a different kinetic behavior compared to normal joints after bolus injection. These findings demonstrate clearly the capability of contrast-enhanced fluorescence imaging to detect early changes caused by rheumatoid arthritis in finger joints. The NIR results were correlated with MRI findings (r = 0.84). CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced fluorescence imaging provides adequate information for the evaluation of inflammatory involvement of finger joints comparable to low-field MRI.
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a new tool for the early detection of inflammatory joint diseases using fluorescence imaging in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral range following the intravenous administration of an unspecific contrast agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A laser-supported system for fluorescence imaging of finger joints was designed and constructed. Five patients and a corresponding number of volunteers were examined using 0.1 mg/kg by weight of indocyanine green as an unspecific contrast agent. Fluorescence images were acquired continuously over a period of 15 minutes. As a control, 1 day before optical imaging, all patients and volunteers underwent contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 0.2 T. On the basis of MRI findings, all examined joints were divided into four groups: no change and mild, moderate, and severe synovitis. The emitted fluorescence photons were quantified in different regions of interest covering the finger joints and finger tips. The normalized fluorescence intensity of contrast agents was compared with MRI findings as a proven standard. RESULTS: NIR dyes of the cyanine class are enriched in inflammatory joints and show a different kinetic behavior compared to normal joints after bolus injection. These findings demonstrate clearly the capability of contrast-enhanced fluorescence imaging to detect early changes caused by rheumatoid arthritis in finger joints. The NIR results were correlated with MRI findings (r = 0.84). CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced fluorescence imaging provides adequate information for the evaluation of inflammatory involvement of finger joints comparable to low-field MRI.
Authors: Reinhard Meier; Christian Krug; Daniel Golovko; Sophie Boddington; Guido Piontek; Martina Rudelius; Elizabeth J Sutton; Andrea Baur-Melnyk; Ella F Jones; Heike E Daldrup-Link Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 2010-08
Authors: Jarmo T Alander; Ilkka Kaartinen; Aki Laakso; Tommi Pätilä; Thomas Spillmann; Valery V Tuchin; Maarit Venermo; Petri Välisuo Journal: Int J Biomed Imaging Date: 2012-04-22
Authors: Valentin S Schäfer; Wolfgang Hartung; Patrick Hoffstetter; Jörn Berger; Christian Stroszczynski; Martina Müller; Martin Fleck; Boris Ehrenstein Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2013 Impact factor: 5.156
Authors: Yogan Kisten; Noémi Györi; Erik Af Klint; Hamed Rezaei; Adrian Levitsky; Anna Karlsson; Ronald van Vollenhoven Journal: RMD Open Date: 2015-06-19