title: Brain perfusion abnormalities in Rett syndrome: a qualitative and quantitative SPET study with 99Tc(m)-ECD.
abstract: Rett syndrome is a progressive neurological paediatric disorder associated with severe mental deficiency, which affects only girls. The aim of this study was to determine if brain blood flow abnormalities detected with 99Tc(m)-ethyl-cysteinate-dimer (99Tc[m]-ECD) single photon emission tomography (SPET) can explain the clinical manifestation and progression of the disease. Qualitative and quantitative global and regional brain blood flow was evaluated in 12 girls with Rett syndrome and compared with an aged-matched reference group of children. In comparison with the reference group, SPET revealed a considerable global reduction in cerebral perfusion in the groups of girls with Rett syndrome. A large statistical difference was noted, which was more evident when comparing the control group with girls with stage IV Rett syndrome than girls with stage III Rett syndrome. The reduction in cerebral perfusion reflects functional disturbance in the brain of children with Rett syndrome. These data confirm that 99Tc(m)-ECD brain SPET is sensitive in detecting hypoperfused areas in girls with Rett syndrome that may be associated with brain atrophy, even when magnetic resonance imaging appears normal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burroni
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aucone
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Volterrani
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayek
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zappella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vattimo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C059659:technetium Tc 99m bicisate; D003545:Cysteine