Positron emission tomography after fetal transplantation in Huntington's disease

Ann Neurol. 2005 Aug;58(2):331-7. doi: 10.1002/ana.20564.

Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive disorder with no known cure. We report two-year postoperative positron emission tomography (PET) data from 7 HD patients who underwent intrastriatal fetal transplantation. Patients showed widespread reductions in glucose uptake with no significant change over 2 years. Dopamine receptor binding was significantly reduced in HD striatum. D1 binding did not change significantly following transplantation, but there was a significant loss of D2 binding. These findings may reflect loss of graft viability and/or disease progression. There was no significant relationship between changes in PET and clinical function. In summary, there was no benefit from transplantation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Fetal Tissue Transplantation*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Huntington Disease / physiopathology
  • Huntington Disease / therapy*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Receptors, Dopamine / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Receptors, Dopamine