[Clinico-instrumental methods of diagnosing aseptic femur head necrosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Clinical, x-ray and scintigraphic investigations were performed in 34 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): 24 patients with SLE complicated by osteonecrosis of the head of the femur (the 1st group) and 10 patients with SLE without clinicoroentgenological signs of aseptic necrosis (the 2nd group). Analysis of the results of scintigraphic investigation showed that the coefficient of radionuclide absorption in the SLE patients with suspected osteonecrosis (stage I) as compared to the controls and patients with stage II osteonecrosis of the head of the femur turned out to be significantly discernible (p less than 0.001). Thus, an early stage of osteonecrosis of the head of the femur can be reliably diagnosed by scintigraphy. Quantitative scintigraphy can be effectively used for dynamic observation and objectification of applied therapy.