Technetium-99m-ECD SPECT in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: a drastic improvement in brain perfusion by antiplatelet therapy.
We present a case of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) with repeated transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple cerebral infarcts and ischemic changes in the cerebral white matter. Cerebral angiographies showed no abnormalities. Technetium-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m-ECD) brain SPECT showed multiple decreased perfusion areas, which were more extensive than the lesions demonstrated on MRI. After treatment with an antiplatelet agent, the patient subsequently recovered from the TIAs. Although no interval changes were observed by MRI after therapy, follow-up Tc-99m-ECD SPECT revealed a marked improvement in brain perfusion. This is the first imaging report of remarkable post-therapy improvement in brain perfusion in APS cases.
Tokumaru
S
S
Department of Radiology, Saga Medical School, Nabeshima-5-1-1, Saga 849-8501, Japan. tokumaru@posc.saga-med.ac.jp
Yoshikai
T
T
Uchino
A
A
Matsui
M
M
Kuroda
Y
Y
Kudo
S
S
D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C059659:technetium Tc 99m bicisate; D003545:Cysteine; D001241:Aspirin