Increased cerebral iron uptake in Wilson's disease: a 52Fe-citrate PET study.
Toxicity of abundant copper is the main cause of brain and liver tissue damage in patients with Wilson's disease (WD). However, there is also evidence of a disturbed iron metabolism in this genetically determined disorder. This PET study was undertaken to assess cerebral iron metabolism in WD patients.


METHODS
We used 52Fe-citrate, which converts to 52Fe-transferrin in blood plasma, to study basic pharmacokinetic features of the cerebral iron transport in 6 WD patients and in 16 healthy volunteers (control subjects). A 2-tissue-compartment model and multiple time graphic plotting were used to calculate 52Fe-transferrin distribution volumes and transport rates.


RESULTS
Net iron uptake (Ki) from plasma into brain tissue was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in WD patients (Ki [mean +/- SEM] = 15.1E-05 +/- 7.13E-05 [1/min]) than in healthy volunteers (Ki = 2.66E-05 +/- 0.351E-05 [1/min]). There was no difference of tracer iron distribution in the cerebral plasma volume between patients and healthy volunteers. Iron uptake values resulting from 2 methods to model PET data of patients and healthy volunteers were highly correlated (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
An abnormally increased cerebral 52Fe-transferrin uptake was found in WD patients.
Bruehlmeier
M
M
PET Program, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland.
Leenders
K L
KL
Vontobel
P
P
Calonder
C
C
Antonini
A
A
Weindl
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007504:Iron Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D007504:Iron Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014168:Transferrin; C025314:ferric citrate; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron