Rheumatism Video Discloses Center Of Inflammation At An Early Stage

Now scientists at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Berlin Institute, in a cooperation project with several partners, have developed such an early detection method. Their optical imaging method for rheumatism works with a fluorescent dye which is stimulated by near-infrared light and is absolutely harmless. With this method, centres of rheumatism can be detected at an earlier stage than is possible with an X-ray apparatus and is less expensive than a magnetic resonance tomograph.

Following the promising results of a clinical preliminary study still ongoing, the Berlin medical technology company "mivenion" acquired licensing rights from PTB in order to prepare a larger study. Also, the statutory health insurance companies have already shown interest in the imaging method, which should make rheumatism diagnostics and treatment distinctly more cost effective – particularly as a new, specific rheumatism contrast medium could in future improve it still another step.