Decreased cerebellar blood flow in postinfectious acute cerebellar ataxia
- Shinichiro Nagamitsua,
- Toyojiro Matsuishia,
- Masatoshi Ishibashib,
- Yushiro Yamashitaa,
- Toshihiro Nishimic,
- Koutarou Ichikawad,
- Koichi Yamanishie,
- Hirohisa Katoa
- aDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan, bDivision of Nuclear Medicine and Department of Radiology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan, cDepartment of Pediatrics, Medical Center for Maternal and Child Health, St Mary’s Hospital, Kurume, Japan, dDepartment of Pediatrics, Emergency Medical Center, Kitakyushu City Yahata Hospital, Kitakyush, Japan, eDepartment of Bacteriology, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Dr Masatoshi Ishibashi, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Department of Radiology, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-Machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830–0011, Japan. Telephone 0081 942 37 2025; fax 0081 942 37 2025; email ishi{at}kurume.ktarn.or.jp
- Received 14 July 1998
- Revised 2 December 1998
- Accepted 16 January 1999
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with postinfectious acute cerebellar ataxia using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
METHODS Five children with postinfectious acute cerebellar ataxia and five control subjects were examined. The distribution of rCBF was measured by SPECT imaging after intravenous administration of 123I-IMP (111 MBq). The rCBF ratio—defined as the ratio of rCBF in the region of interest (ROI) to that in the occipital cortex—was calculated for each cortical and subcortical ROI. The mean rCBF ratio of each region was then compared between the ataxic and control subjects. These patients and all control subjects were also evaluated using MRI.
RESULTS The rCBF ratio was significantly lower in the cerebellum of the ataxic patients than in the cerebellum of the control subjects (p<0.05). No abnormal cerebellar morphology and no abnormal signal intensities were found on MRI.
CONCLUSION 123I-IMP SPECT clearly demonstrated the decreased rCBF in the cerebellum of all patients with postinfectious acute cerebellar ataxia.
