Patterns of cerebral glucose metabolism detected with positron emission tomography differ in multiple system atrophy and olivopontocerebellar atrophy.
We used positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose to study local cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (ICMRglc) in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy (sOPCA), and dominantly inherited olivopontocerebellar atrophy (dOPCA) in comparison with normal control subjects. IN MSA, absolute lCMRglc was significantly decreased in the brainstem, cerebellum, putamen, thalamus, and cerebral cortex. In sOPCA, absolute lCMRglc was significantly decreased in the brainstem, cerebellum, putamen, thalamus, and cerebral cortex. In dOPCA, absolute lCMRglc was significantly decreased in the brainstem and cerebellum but not in the other structures. Examination of lCMRglc normalized to the cerebral cortex in comparison with normal controls revealed in MSA significant decreases in the brainstem, cerebellum, and putamen but, in both sOPCA and dOPCA, significant decreases only in the brainstem and cerebellum. The findings indicate that these three disorders all show a marked decrease of lCMRglc in the brainstem and cerebellum but differ in the degree of hypometabolism in forebrain and cerebral cortical structures. The results are consistent with the possibility that, in many cases, sOPCA will evolve into MSA. Moreover, positron emission tomography may provide helpful diagnostic information in these neurodegenerative diseases.
Gilman
S
S
Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0316.
Koeppe
R A
RA
Junck
L
L
Kluin
K J
KJ
Lohman
M
M
St Laurent
R T
RT
D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009849:Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D005947:Glucose