title: Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity in healthy controls: a [¹⁸Fluoro] Dopa-PET follow-up study.
abstract: In order to assess nigrostriatal function over time in healthy subjects with substantia nigra hyperechogenicity (SN+) believed to be at higher risk for Parkinson's disease (PD), ten healthy SN+ subjects underwent [(18)Fluoro] Dopa positron emission tomography (PET) twice-at baseline and after a mean of 7.3 years. Neurological examination took place at study inclusion followed by a structured telephone interview focusing on early Parkinsonian symptoms at the time point of second PET study and 3.5 years later. The [(18)Fluoro] Dopa uptake remained unchanged in eight of ten participants. In the other two subjects marked unilateral reduction of putaminal [(18)Fluoro] Dopa uptake ratios appeared over the time, followed by complaints of a clinically manifest PD in one. We suggest that the progressive pathological PET findings in 20 % and PD conversion in 10 % of our cohort may be in accordance with the presumed proportion of SN+ individuals eventually developing PD based on SN+ prevalence of 10 % within the healthy population, being ten times higher than PD prevalence in the age of over 60 years. Our findings hint towards a significance of SN+ indicating a high risk for PD in some extrapyramidally healthy SN+ individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Saarland University Hospital, Kirrberger Str, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Behnke
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fassbender
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schreckenberger
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C043437:fluorodopa F 18; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine
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