Early detection of inflammatory foci is crucial for the effective management of rheumatoid arthritis. Quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) and computerized tomography (CT) scan are valuable tools for diagnosis and monitoring the effects of therapy. 18 F-FDG , a glucose analog used to monitor inflammation, is the currently used gold standard radiopharmaceutical PET marker. Other PET tracers like 68 Ga-citrate and 89 Zr-transferrin can detect inflammation through the presence of transferrin-1 receptors on mononuclear inflammatory cells.
However, these receptors are also present in cancer cells, so their specificity in diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory conditions is questionable. Vascular adhesion protein 1 (VAP-1) is an endothelial cell molecule responsible for leukocyte trafficking from blood vessels to the inflammatory site. Although VAP-1 contributes to the early…
