Technetium (99mTc) exametazime

Technetium (99mTc) exametazime is a radiopharmaceutical sold under the trade name Ceretec, and is used for the detection of altered regional cerebral perfusion in stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases. It can also be used for the labelling of leukocytes to localise intra-abdominal infections and inflammatory bowel disease. Exametazime (the part without technetium) is sometimes referred to by its chemical name of hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime or HMPAO.

Chemistry


The drug consists of two of the three stereoisomers of hexametazime (HMPAO), one of which is shown here, the other being its enantiomer. The third stereoisomer is the meso form. Exametazime acts as a chelating agent for the radioisotope technetium-99m.