title: Clinical impact of diagnostic SPET investigations with a dopamine re-uptake ligand.
abstract: The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is based on clinical features with pathological verification. However, autopsy has been found to confirm a specialist diagnosis in only about 75% of cases. Especially early in the course of the disease, the clinical diagnosis can be difficult. Imaging of presynaptic dopamine transporters (DAT receptors) has provided a possible diagnostic probe in the evaluation of Parkinson's disease. The cocaine analogue [(123)I]-2-beta-carboxymethoxy-3-beta(4-iodophenyl)tropane ([(123)I]-beta-CIT) is one of several radioligands that have been developed for single-photon emission tomography (SPET). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of [(123)I]-beta-CIT SPET on the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with a primary, tentative diagnosis of parkinsonism. We undertook a retrospective evaluation of the clinical records of 90 consecutive patients referred to [(123)I]-beta-CIT SPET from the neurological department, Bispebjerg Hospital. In 58 subjects the scans revealed altered tracer uptake consistent with Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy. A significant change in the management or treatment because of the scan was found in 25 patients (28%). The sensitivity of the examination was 97% and the specificity 83%. In conclusion, a significant clinical impact of DAT receptor SPET imaging was found. DAT receptor imaging is a useful diagnostic probe in patients with a possible diagnosis of parkinsonism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. alokkegaard@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Annemette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Løkkegaard
authors.forename: Lene M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Werdelin
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Friberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D004421:Dystonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human; C069723:2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane; D003042:Cocaine