[123 I-MIBG myocardial sympathetic innervation scintigraphy and Parkinson's disease. Preliminary results].
OBJECTIVE
Cardiac sympathetic function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is significantly impaired. Cardiac scintigraphy with 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) is used to assess cardiac sympathetic function.


METHODS
A total of 29 consecutive patients with PD and 10 control subjects without neurological disease were studied. Myocardial imaging with 123I-MIBG was performed to evaluate cardiac sympathetic function. Early and delayed images of the anterior view were obtained at 15 min. and 4 h. after injection of 123I-MIBG, respectively. 123I-MIBG uptake was quantified qualitatively and semiquantitatively by calculating a heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratio.


RESULTS
The heart/mediastinum ratio was markedly reduced in patients with PD (I to IV on the Hoehn and Yahr scale) when compared to the control subjects (p < 0.05). This finding was independent of the length and severity of the disease or the pharmacological treatment of the patients. None of the control subjects showed decrease in myocardial 123I-MIBG uptake.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that a decrease in myocardial accumulation of 123I-MIBG was observed in the early stages of PD. This suggests that the measurement of 123I-MIBG may help the early diagnosis of PD, and can be used to detect cardiac autonomic dysfunction, especially in patients without typical signs and symptoms.
Jiménez-Hoyuela
J M
JM
Servicios de Medicina Nuclear. Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria. Málaga. Spain.
Rebollo
A C
AC
Campos
V
V
Rius
F
F
D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017779:Sympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine