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[123I]FP-CIT SPECT is a useful method to monitor the rate of dopaminergic degeneration in early-stage Parkinson's disease

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We investigated the applicability [123I]FP-CIT SPECT for the assessment of the rate of dopaminergic degeneration in PD. Twenty early-stage PD patients (age range 43–73 yr; mean age 55.4) were examined twice, a mean of 12 months apart. The mean annual change in the ratio of specific to nonspecific [123I]FP-CIT binding to the striatum was used as the outcome measure. The mean annual decrease in striatal [123I]FP-CIT binding ratios was found to be about 8% (of the baseline mean). In order to demonstrate a significant effect (p < 0.05) of putative neuroprotective agent with 0.80 power and 50% of predicted protection within 2 years, 36 patients are required in each group, when the effects are measured by means of changes in [123I]FP-CIT binding ratios in whole striatum. Our findings indicate that [123I]FP-CIT SPECT seems to be a useful tool to investigate the progression of dopaminergic degeneration in PD and may provide an objective method of measuring the effectiveness of neuroprotective therapies.

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Received August 30, 2000; accepted February 19, 2001

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Winogrodzka, A., Bergmans, P., Booij, J. et al. [123I]FP-CIT SPECT is a useful method to monitor the rate of dopaminergic degeneration in early-stage Parkinson's disease. J Neural Transm 108, 1011–1019 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007020170019

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007020170019

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