Preliminary results of [99mTc]OKT3 scintigraphy to evaluate acute rejection in renal transplants

Abstract Allograft rejection can be classified as humoral or cellular mechanisms. Accurate diagnosis of acute rejection remains a formidable challenge in renal transplantation. The need to avoid unnecessary immunosuppressive therapy to treat this complication has led to a continued search for improved diagnostic methods to evaluate and identify postoperative episodes. Here we evaluated the use of [ 99m Tc]OKT3 scintigraphy to diagnose acute rejection in renal transplants. Among 22 patients undergoing renal transplant, we observed an increased [ 99m Tc]OKT3 kidney uptake with the passage of time in patients with rejecting allografts. These findings agreed with those of biopsies. We suggest the [ 99m Tc]OKT3 scans may be useful for the monitoring of renal transplants to detect acute rejection.