[123I]FP-CIT SPECT is a useful method to monitor the rate of dopaminergic degeneration in early-stage Parkinson's disease.
We investigated the applicability [123I]FP-CIT SPECT for the assessment of the rate of dopaminergic degeneration in PD. Twenty early-stage PD patients (age range 43-73 yr; mean age 55.4) were examined twice, a mean of 12 months apart. The mean annual change in the ratio of specific to nonspecific [123I]FP-CIT binding to the striatum was used as the outcome measure. The mean annual decrease in striatal [123I]FP-CIT binding ratios was found to be about 8% (of the baseline mean). In order to demonstrate a significant effect (p < 0.05) of putative neuroprotective agent with 0.80 power and 50% of predicted protection within 2 years, 36 patients are required in each group, when the effects are measured by means of changes in [123I]FP-CIT binding ratios in whole striatum. Our findings indicate that [123I]FP-CIT SPECT seems to be a useful tool to investigate the progression of dopaminergic degeneration in PD and may provide an objective method of measuring the effectiveness of neuroprotective therapies.
Winogrodzka
A
A
Graduate School for Neurosciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.winogrodzka@azvu.nl
Bergmans
P
P
Booij
J
J
van Royen
E A
EA
Janssen
A G
AG
Wolters
E C
EC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014326:Tropanes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014326:Tropanes; C087552:2-carbomethoxy-8-(3-fluoropropyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)tropane; D004298:Dopamine