Novel nuclear medicine test can identify kidney transplant infection

Novel nuclear medicine test can identify kidney transplant infection
MRI showing focal restriction of diffusion (A, red arrows). Biopsy from a kidney allograft shows inflammatory cell infiltration typical for allograft infection (granulocytes (CD15, B), and T cells (CD3, C). Corresponding upregulated CXCR4 expression (D, white arrows). Additional markers of cell infiltration (B cells (CD20, E), and macrophages (CD68, F). Scale bar indicates 200 μm. Credit: T Derlin et al., Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

German scientists have developed a novel nuclear medicine test that can determine whether a kidney transplant patient has developed infection in the transplanted tissue. The study, which utilizes positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), is presented in the December issue ofThe Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Complicated(UTIs) occur frequently in patients after kidney transplantation due to suppression of the immune system and may lead to transplant failure or sepsis. Detecting the source and extent of infection—especially whether the transplanted kidney (allograft) is involved—without further invasive procedures can be challenging.

This study is the first application of highly-specific CXCR4-targeted PET using gallium-68 (68Ga)-Pentixafor for imaging infection. CXCR4 is a small receptor protein present on leukocytes (white blood cells) fighting infection, and CXCR4 orchestrates the recruitment of infiltrating leukocytes to the site of infection.

"Direct visualization of infiltrating leukocytes in renal allografts in the context of kidney infection has not been done before using PET," explains Thorsten Derlin, MD, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. "Other imaging methods have not been very useful in the past for diagnosing renal infection, and biopsy may have complications, including bleeding."

For the study, 13with complicated UTIs underwent PET with the CXCR4-ligand68Ga-Pentixafor and diffusion-weighted MRI. The combined PET/MRI detected acute infection in the transplanted kidneys of 9 patients and lower UTI/non-urological infections in the remaining 4 patients.

Combined CXCR4-targeted PET/MR imaging with68因此,Ga-Pentixafor显示强大的潜在for noninvasive detection of leukocytes in kidney transplants. This novel methodology may also refine the characterization of infectious and inflammatory kidney diseases and may serve as a platform for future clinical studies targeting transplanted tissue (allograft) infection.

"This work establishes CXCR4-targeted PET as a novel approach for imaging of, and it strengthens the role offor renal imaging," Derlin states. "It demonstrates the potential of integrating state-of-the art imaging approaches—i.e., diffusion-weighted MRI and novel, highly specific PET tracers—for a comprehensive assessment ofdisease and has the potential to be translated into other settings of difficult-to-diagnose infections, such as cholangitis in transplanted patients and bone infections."

更多的信息:Thorsten Derlin et al, Integrating MRI and Chemokine Receptor CXCR4-Targeted PET for Detection of Leukocyte Infiltration in Complicated Urinary Tract Infections After Kidney Transplantation,Journal of Nuclear Medicine(2017).DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.117.193037
Journal information: Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Provided by Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Citation: Novel nuclear medicine test can identify kidney transplant infection (2017, November 8) retrieved 29 November 2022 from //www.puressens.com/news/2017-11-nuclear-medicine-kidney-transplant-infection.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Age, not post-op infection, more important for kidney transplant success, study finds

2shares

Feedback to editors