Hypermetabolism in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies.
OBJECTIVE
Detection of hyperperfusion by I-123 N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography can be helpful to diagnose dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). This study characterized hypermetabolism in DLB.


METHODS
A total of 22 probable cases of DLB were examined by F-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography.


RESULTS
Hypermetabolism was found in the peri-motor area, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Eleven patients had hypermetabolism in all 3 areas, 6 in 2 areas, 4 in 1 area, and 1 in no area. Hypermetabolism was most frequent in the cerebellum. Comparison of the 11 patients with hypermetabolism in all 3 areas to the other 11 cases found no significant differences in age (P = 0.2555), sex (P = 0.1889), Mini-Mental State Examination score (P = 0.0897), and Parkinsonism. However, visual hallucinations were significantly more frequent in the patients with hypermetabolism in all 3 areas (P = 0.0018).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypermetabolism is common in patients with DLB and may be related to visual hallucinations.
Miyazawa
Nobuhiko
N
Department of PET Center of Kofu Neurosurgical Hospital, Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan. nobu_miya9311@yahoo.co.jp
Shinohara
Toyoaki
T
Nagasaka
Takamura
T
Hayashi
Masataka
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18