[Neuroimaging of the dopamine transporter in Parkinsons disease: first study using [99mTc]-TRODAT-1 and SPECT in Brazil].
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.
Shih
Ming Chi
MC
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
Amaro
Edson
E
Ferraz
Henrique Ballalai
HB
Hoexter
Marcelo Queiroz
MQ
Goulart
Fabricio Oliveira
FO
Wagner
Jairo
J
Lin
Li Fu
LF
Fu
Ying Kai
YK
Mari
Jair Jesus
JJ
de Lacerda
Acioly Luiz Tavares
AL
Tufik
Sergio
S
Bressan
Rodrigo Affonseca
RA
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
D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014326:Tropanes; C104196:technetium Tc 99m TRODAT-1