Radioisotope labeled platelets in medical diagnosis.

The myriad of applications of indium-111 labeled platelets (111In-P), both in biomedical research and clinical diagnostic imaging, in recent years is an index of the potential of this technology. Because many diseases involve the vascular system, a nontoxic platelet label suitable for imaging has immense potential for diagnosis. Presently confined to research centers, this technique is currently used in three main diagnostic situations: deep vein thrombosis, cardiac thrombi, and organ (renal) transplantation rejection. Future applications will proliferate when difficulties in achieving rapid labeling are overcome, and the period between study initiation and final diagnosis is diminished. This review emphasizes current clinical applications and the potential role of this technology in diagnostic imaging.