title: 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT as a Potential Neuroimaging Biomarker in Patients With Restless Legs Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological sensory motor disorder of which pathophysiology remains sketchy. The present study was aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy and potential of SPECT-TRODAT imaging in discriminating patients with RLS from normal individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 34 subjects, 22 diagnosed with RLS and 12 classified as normal, were enrolled. Brain SPECT images were acquired 180 minutes after IV injection of 740 to 925 MBq (20-25 mCi) 99mTc-TRODAT-1 using a double-headed γ-camera equipped with high-resolution fan-beam collimators. Regions of interest were drawn over the whole striatum, caudate, and putamen nucleus of each hemisphere on composite images of the 9 slices with the highest basal ganglia activity. The brain SPECT 99mTc-TRODAT-1 imaging was compared with early-stage RLS patients and healthy volunteers groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SPECT imaging in RLS patients showed reduced radioactivity accumulation in the striatum profile. The major abnormal result observed is the significantly reduced uptake in striatal dopamine transporter density and activity. The symmetric striatal uptake was observed, and striatum dopamine transporter destiny was more impaired in patients with RLS disease. SPECT images also showed significant differences between patients and volunteers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports that symptoms of restless legs resulted from the striatum of the brain dopaminergic system dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei; †Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei City; ‡School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei; §Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei City; and ∥Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Guan-Yu
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Fu-Chi
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chun-An
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Kuo-Cheng
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jen-Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jiunn-Tay
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods; D014326:Tropanes
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D014326:Tropanes; C104196:technetium Tc 99m TRODAT-1; D004298:Dopamine