This study analyzed temporal changes of striatal dopamine-D2 receptor binding during the course of different extrapyramidal movement disorders using 123I-iodobenzamide (IBZM) SPECT.Eighteen patients (9 with Parkinson's disease, 9 with parkinsonian plus syndrome) were followed for 11-53 mo. Dopamine-D2 receptor binding was assessed using 123I-IBZM SPECT at the beginning and at the end of the follow-up period. SPECT data were acquired 120 min postinjection of 3-5 mCi 123I-IBZM. A semiautomated algorithm was applied to the raw data for semiquantitative evaluation of regional cerebral receptor binding.Intraobserver (r = 0.992) and interobserver (r = 0.930) variance was low for the semiautomated interpretation of the SPECT examination of the dopaminergic D2 receptor binding, reflecting a highly reproducible SPECT algorithm. Mean specific dopamine-D2 receptor binding was lower in patients with parkinsonian plus syndrome compared to patients with Parkinson's disease on the initial (p < 0.001) as well as the follow-up study (p < 0.001). In patients with Parkinson's disease, we observed an unaffected receptor binding compared to a reduced binding of radiotracer in patients with parkinsonian plus syndrome during the course of the disease (p < 0.001).During the follow-up, patients with Parkinson's disease showed a constant dopamine-D2 receptor binding. In contrast, patients with parkinsonian plus syndrome revealed a decline of the binding of dopamine-D2 receptor. These findings are in agreement with histopathological data that demonstrated a preserved dopamine-D2 receptor status in patients with Parkinson's disease and a decline of the dopamine-D2 receptors in patients with parkinsonian plus syndrome. SPECT examinations using 123I-IBZM are useful for assessing dynamic changes of dopamine-D2 receptors in extrapyramidal movement disorders. Semiquantitative SPECT evaluations may provide valuable information for clinical management and prognosis of the patient with extrapyramidal movement disorders.
The aim of this study was 1. to investigate whether the pulmonary activity in 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy can be accurately quantified from the anterior SPECT projection, 2. to determine the pattern of the intrapulmonary Tl distribution, and 3. to assess the influence of parameters of left ventricular function on the lung/heart ratio (LHR). Scintigraphic images of 85 patients were analysed. In 24 patients planar anterior imaging of the thorax was performed in addition to myocardial SPECT, in 41 patients radionuclide ventriculography was performed within 4 weeks after Tl scintigraphy.1. pulmonary Tl-content can be quantitated from the anterior SPECT projection with sufficient accuracy, 2. a lower thallium activity was registered over the apical part of the lung as compared to the basal part, and 3. in the multiple regression analysis the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during exercise and heart rate during exercise (HRex) exhibited the strongest relation to LHR. After correction with regard to HRex the elevated LHR points to a pathological LVEF during exercise.
The purpose of this study was to compare HMPAO- and IMZ-SPECT findings in treated and untreated patients with focal epilepsies. We examined 20 patients (untreated 13; treated 7). All patients had a normal CT and/or MRI scan. In all patients both whole-brain activity and regional count density (rcd) were evaluated by SPECT. Furthermore, the specific and non-specific binding of IMZ were calculated for each ROI and the results of both, treated and untreated patients were compared. Our data indicate that the normalized cerebral total binding of IMZ was significantly increased in all regions in the group of treated patients (p < 0.001). In contrast, no difference in the tracer binding was found with HMPAO-SPECT. We conclude that the difference in the IMZ-binding might be due either to exogenous or endogenous factors. In our study IMZ-SPECT had a higher sensitivity and a lower specificity in the detection of decreased rcd in areas with EEG findings that indicate an epileptogenic focus compared with HMPAO-SPECT.
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) during periods of immunosuppression or prolonged neutropenia is a serious condition with high mortality. Prophylaxis is unsatisfactory because of the low effectiveness of systemic administration of amphotericin B (AMB) and because of its side effects. Prophylactic inhalation of AMB by means of a nebulizing system may be able to reduce the incidence of IPA. Therefore, we studied the distribution of nebulized 99mTc-labeled AMB and estimated its particle size. AMB is homogeneously distributed in the lung and partly deposited in the terminal respiratory unit; it remains there with a half-life of at least 14 h. Therefore, prophylaxis of IPA with AMB nebulized as described can be recommended.
