Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate, by means of I-123-FP-CIT SPECT, the effect of chronic treatment with levodopa on striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: Fifteen patients under stable levodopa/carbidopa monotherapy were imaged twice: at baseline on medication and after at least 20 days of treatment wash-out. DAT levels were assessed from SPECT imaging for the entire striatum, the right and left striatum, the right and left putamen and the right and left caudate, as a ratio of regional brain activities using the formula: (striatal region of interest-occipital)/occipital. Results: During levodopa wash-out, despite a worsening in patients' clinical disability (H&Y mean stage 2.53 +/- 0.58 versus 1.73 +/- 0.45 on therapy, p < 0.001), striatal I-123-FP-CIT levels were not significantly different from those at baseline in any of the brain regions examined. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that levodopa does not affect I-123-FP-CIT brain imaging and confirm that it is not necessary to withdraw this medication to measure DAT levels with SPECT.
The effect of levodopa therapy on dopamine transporter SPECT imaging with I-123-FP-CIT in patients with Parkinson's disease
Danieli R;
2005-01-01
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate, by means of I-123-FP-CIT SPECT, the effect of chronic treatment with levodopa on striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: Fifteen patients under stable levodopa/carbidopa monotherapy were imaged twice: at baseline on medication and after at least 20 days of treatment wash-out. DAT levels were assessed from SPECT imaging for the entire striatum, the right and left striatum, the right and left putamen and the right and left caudate, as a ratio of regional brain activities using the formula: (striatal region of interest-occipital)/occipital. Results: During levodopa wash-out, despite a worsening in patients' clinical disability (H&Y mean stage 2.53 +/- 0.58 versus 1.73 +/- 0.45 on therapy, p < 0.001), striatal I-123-FP-CIT levels were not significantly different from those at baseline in any of the brain regions examined. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that levodopa does not affect I-123-FP-CIT brain imaging and confirm that it is not necessary to withdraw this medication to measure DAT levels with SPECT.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
