[Usefulness of brain SPECT with HMPAO-99mTc and psychological tests for diagnosis of neurological involvement in Behçet's disease].
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to establish the usefulness of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and psychological tests for diagnostic of neuro-Behçet (NB) and to evaluate the clinical significance of neurological symptoms that are difficult to interpret and asymptomatic abnormalities in diagnostic tests.


METHODS
Forty patients with Behçet's disease (BD) were enrrolled for being studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), SPECT and psychological tests.


RESULTS
MRI findings were abnormal in 52,9% of patients with neurological involvement and 23.1% without it (p < 0.1), whereas SPECT findings were abnormal in 82.3% and 61.5%, respectively (no significant difference). The difference between MRI and SPECT findings was significant (p < 0.02 for the complete group; p < 0.05 for patients without neurological symptoms; p < 0.08 for patients with them). The mean follow-up period was 42.6 months, and no patient without neurological involvement or those only with neurological symptoms that are difficult to interprete developed definite neurological involvement. The results of cognitive tests were not significantly different among patients with or without neurological involvement, neither among patients and controls. The scale 2 (depression) of the personality test was more frequent in patients with definite neurological involvement (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
SPECT seems more sensible and less specific than MRI for diagnostic of NB. Although SPECT findings were frequently abnormal in patients with BD without neurological involvement or with neurological symptoms hard to interpret, no patient from this group developed a NB flare after a long follow-up period. A characteristic personality was found for patients with BD.
García Hernández
Francisco José
FJ
Unidad de Colagenosis. Servicio de Medicina Interna. Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío. Sevilla. España.
Ocaña Medina
Celia
C
Mateos Romero
Luis
L
Sánchez Román
Julio
J
García Solís
David
D
Franco-Baux
Joaquín Ruiz
JR
Mora Roche
Joaquín
J
Mora Merchán
Joaquín
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001177:Arthropathy, Neurogenic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010091:Oximes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D010091:Oximes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C068296:hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime