Spleen-liver scintiscan: A new technique for distinguishing allograft rejection from cyclosporine nephrotoxicity

The clinical problem of distinguishing acute renal graft rejection from cyclosporine nephrotoxicity has thus far defied solution. Since graft rejection can be thought of as a local manifestation of a generalized immune response, a test demonstrating increased activity of the immune system should be of great diagnostic value. We propose that quantitative analysis of standard Tc-99m radiocolloid spleen-liver scintiscans in serial fashion can provide an indirect clinical estimate of immune system activity. This paper describes a technique for estimating the radiocolloid distribution from spleen-liver scintiscans in renal transplant patients at multiple intervals postoperatively. Some clinical and investigative implications are explored.