Impact of beta-amyloid-specific florbetaben PET imaging on confidence in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be corroborated by imaging of beta-amyloid plaques using positron emission tomography (PET). Here, we performed an add-on questionnaire study to evaluate the relevance of florbetaben imaging (BAY 949172) in diagnosis and consecutive management of probable AD patients.


METHODS
AD patients with a clinical diagnosis in accordance with the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria or controls were imaged using florbetaben. Referring physicians were asked on a voluntary basis about their confidence in initial diagnosis, significance of PET imaging results, and their anticipated consequences for future patient care.


RESULTS
121 questionnaires for probable AD patients and 80 questionnaires for controls were evaluated. In 18% of patients who had initially received the diagnosis of probable AD, PET scans were rated negative, whereas in controls 18% of scans were positive. An increase in confidence in the initial diagnosis was frequently reported (80%). Imaging results had a significant impact on the intended patient care, as judged by the referring physicians; this was most prominent in those patients with a contradicting scan and/or a low confidence in the initial diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Florbetaben amyloid imaging increases the overall confidence in diagnosis of AD and may frequently influence clinical decisions and patient management.
Department of Psychiatry, Charité-Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
C G
CG
Schipke
O
O
Peters
I
I
Heuser
T
T
Grimmer
M N
MN
Sabbagh
O
O
Sabri
C
C
Hock
M
M
Kunz
J
J
Kuhlmann
C
C
Reininger
M
M
Blankenburg
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003657:Decision Making; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013267:Stilbenes
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013267:Stilbenes; C527756:4-(N-methylamino)-4'-(2-(2-(2-fluoroethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)stilbene