Impact of dopamine transporter SPECT using 123I-Ioflupane on diagnosis and management of patients with clinically uncertain Parkinsonian syndromes

Mov Disord. 2004 Oct;19(10):1175-82. doi: 10.1002/mds.20112.

Abstract

Imaging with (123)I-Ioflupane single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a marker of nigrostriatal neuronal integrity, allowing differentiation of parkinsonism with loss of dopaminergic terminals (presynaptic Parkinson syndrome [PS]) from parkinsonism without nigrostriatal degeneration. This study assessed SPECT imaging in 118 patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndromes (CUPS). In 36% of patients with presynaptic PS and 54% with nonpresynaptic PS, imaging results were not consistent with the initial diagnosis. After imaging, diagnosis was changed in 52% of patients. All patients with a final diagnosis of presynaptic PS had an abnormal image, whereas 94% of patients with nonpresynaptic PS had a normal scan. Imaging increased confidence in diagnosis, leading to changes in clinical management in 72% of patients. Consequently, visual assessment of (123)I-Ioflupane SPECT may have a significant impact on the clinical management of CUPS patients.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Parkinsonian Disorders* / metabolism
  • Parkinsonian Disorders* / therapy
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*
  • Tropanes*

Substances

  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tropanes
  • 2-carbomethoxy-8-(3-fluoropropyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)tropane