Technetium Tc-99m red blood cells is a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical agent used for blood pool imaging, including cardiac first pass and gated equilibrium imaging and for detection of sites of gastrointestinal bleeding. It is clinically useful in early detection and localization of bleeding sites, and preoperative diagnosis of hemangioma.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Autologous red blood cells (RBC) are collected from the patient and put into the reaction vial for radiolabeling, followed by anticoagulation with heparin or Anticoagulant Citrate Dextrose Solution (ACD). In the reaction vial, stannous ion diffuses across the RBC membrane and accumulates intracellularly. Sodium hypochlorite, which does not cross the RBC membrane, is then added to the reaction vial to oxidize the extracellular stannous ion. Finally, sodium pertechnetate Tc 99m is added to the oxidized reaction vial to diffuse across the red blood cell membrane and be reduced by the intracellular stannous ion. Upon reduction, Tc 99m cannot diffuse out of the RBC. Technetium Tc 99m-labeled red blood cells are injected again into the patient for gamma scintigraphic imaging.
- Primary indication
- Indicated for blood pool imaging, including cardiac first pass and gated equilibrium imaging and for detection of sites of gastrointestinal bleeding.Curator reviewed · 4 structured indications
- First approval
- United States, 1991
- Also known as
- Technetium (99mTc) red blood cells · Technetium Tc 99m red blood cells · Technetium Tc 99m-labeled red blood cells · Technetium Tc-99m red blood cell · Technetium Tc-99m red blood cell human
Resolves to
What you can answer from here — as of April 02, 2025
Which other approved drugs treat the same conditions as Technetium Tc-99m red blood cells, and which companies have late-stage candidates in those indications?
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