Tc-99m Depreotide SPECT/CT depicts myocardial involvement in a case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Clin Nucl Med. 2008 Dec;33(12):874-5. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e31818bf335.

Abstract

We report a case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) with cardiac involvement, imaged with Tc-99m depreotide. A 56-year-old man presented with fever, hematuria, and chest pain. Laboratory findings (angiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and uremia) were suggestive of TTP. Cardiac enzymes were elevated and diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis was demonstrated by echocardiography. Serum rheumatologic and virologic analysis were negative. A Tc-99m depreotide SPECT/CT study showed diffuse uptake in the myocardium, indicating inflammatory reaction to thrombotic/hemorrhagic myocardial damage. We suggest that Tc-99m depreotide imaging may reveal myocardial involvement in TTP; this could prompt further investigation for potential applications in myocarditis of other etiologies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardium / pathology*
  • Organotechnetium Compounds*
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / diagnostic imaging*
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / pathology*
  • Somatostatin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Somatostatin
  • technetium Tc 99m depreotide