The Value of 99mTc-Leukoscan® Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Infectious Endocarditis on Surgical Materials

The Value of 99mTc-Leukoscan® Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Infectious Endocarditis on Surgical Materials

Infectious endocarditis is a serious pathology with difficult diagnosis especially on prosthetic valves or cardiac device because of the plurality of clinical presentations and the low sensitivity value of echocardiography in these patients. Despite a well validated indication for the detection of septic emboli, the value of FDG-PET for the detection of prosthetic valves or cardiac implantable device is still unclear especially because of frequent non-septic inflammatory processes.

To improve the specificity value, the use of radio-labeled leukocytes scintigraphy is conventionally proposed. An alternative method is to label leukocytes in vivo with an anti-murin anti body fragment ( Sulesomab , Leukoscan®). This scintigraphy is regularly used in the investigation of osteomyelitis and has been proposed in infectious endocarditis. To knowledge of investigators, the value of Leukoscan® scintigraphy on prosthetic valve or cardiac device infection had not been studied.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female subjects aged > 21 years
• Patients presenting a suspicions of infectious endocarditis on surgical materials
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient with a history of exposure to murine antigens, particularly a patient who has already received a 99mTc-Leukoscan® scintigraphy
• Patients whose clinical condition requires prompt care, not allowing them to wait for the examination
• Pregnant or nursing (including pumping for storage and feeding)
• Patients under adapted antibiotic therapy for more than 15 days
• Deprivation of civil rights (curatorship, guardianship, safeguard of justice)