title: [Neuroimaging of the dopamine transporter in Parkinsons disease: first study using [99mTc]-TRODAT-1 and SPECT in Brazil].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dopamine transporter (DAT) neuroimaging radiotracers were developed to estimate dopamine neuronal loss in vivo in Parkinsons disease (PD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate DAT density in vivo using [99mTc]-TRODAT-1 and single photon computerized tomography (SPECT) in a population of Brazilian PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen PD patients and 15 matched healthy controls scanned with [99mTc]-TRODAT-1 (INER-Taiwan) and SPECT. Estimates of striatum DAT density were calculated using binding potential (BP). Patients were assessed with PD scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PD patients had significantly lower striatal DAT-BP (mean+/-SD) (0.38+/-0.12) compared to controls (BP=0.84+/-0.16; p<0.01). A 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity was obtained to discriminate PD cases from controls. Negative correlations between striatal DAT-BP and PD severity (rho=-0.7, p<0.001) and motor scales (rho=-0.80, p<0.001) were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  [99mTc]TRODAT-1 SPECTs scanning was able to discriminate PD patients from controls. The technique is a powerful instrument to measure DAT density that can be used in clinical and research settings in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Interdiciplinar de Neuroimagem e Cognição, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, and Departamento de Imagem, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. mingchi@psiquiatria.epm.br
authors.forename: Ming Chi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amaro
authors.forename: Henrique Ballalai
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: Marcelo Queiroz
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Hoexter
authors.forename: Fabricio Oliveira
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Goulart
authors.forename: Jairo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Li Fu
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ying Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jair Jesus
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.forename: Acioly Luiz Tavares
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Lacerda
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tufik
authors.forename: Rodrigo Affonseca
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bressan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*; D014326:Tropanes
chemical_list: D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014326:Tropanes; C104196:technetium Tc 99m TRODAT-1