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Title: Practical application of /sup 125/I-fibrinogen leg scanning

Journal Article · · CRC Crit. Rev. Clin. Lab. Sci.; (United States)
 [1];
  1. Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

The diagnosis of venous thrombosis by radioiodine-labeled fibrinogen scanning depends upon the incorporation of circulating labeled fibrinogen into a developing or established thrombus which is then detected by measuring the increase of overlying surface radioactivity with an isotope detector. The scanning procedure is simple and rapid, and one technician can screen 15 to 20 patients daily. A single intravenous injection of 100 ..mu..Ci of /sup 125/I-fibrinogen enables scanning to be performed for approximately 7 days. leg scanning has been a valuable research tool and is also useful for the clinical management of patients with venous thrombosis. Its limitations are its insensitivity to iliac vein thrombosis and relative insensitivity to thrombi in the upper thigh, and when used diagnostically in patients with clinically suspected venous thrombosis there is a delay of up to 2 days before a positive result is obtained. For these reasons leg scanning should not be used alone in patients with clinically suspected venous thrombosis. The practical indications for using /sup 125/I-fibrinogen leg scanning are (1) for diagnosis of clinically suspected venous thrombosis when used in combination with impedance plethysmography; (2) detection of acute venous thrombosis in patients with chronic venous insufficiency; (3) screening patients who develop calf vein thrombosis when there is contraindication to anticoagulant therapy; and (4) screening certain high-risk patients and patient groups in whom the prophylaxis is either contraindicated or ineffective.

OSTI ID:
5800809
Journal Information:
CRC Crit. Rev. Clin. Lab. Sci.; (United States), Vol. 14:4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English