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Residual striatal dopaminergic nerve terminals in very long‐standing Parkinson's disease: A single photon emission computed tomography imaging study
Author(s) -
Djaldetti Ruth,
Lorberboym Mordechai,
Karmon Yuval,
Treves Therese A.,
Ziv Ilan,
Melamed Eldad
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.23380
Subject(s) - dopaminergic , putamen , parkinson's disease , caudate nucleus , neuroscience , single photon emission computed tomography , medicine , striatum , emission computed tomography , dopaminergic pathways , dopamine , psychology , positron emission tomography , pathology , disease
Molecular imaging studies of Parkinson's disease (PD) progression mostly focus on the first 5 years after disease onset, demonstrating rapid initial nigrostriatal neuronal loss. The fate of residual functional dopaminergic nerve terminals in patients with long‐standing PD has not yet been specifically explored. Therefore, we performed [ 123 I]‐FP‐CIT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in 15 patients with very long‐standing PD (mean disease duration 20.6 ± 6.3 years). Measurable uptake of [ 123 I]‐FP‐CIT was still detected in the striata of all patients. As seen in early stages, reduction of tracer uptake in the putamen was more prominent than in the caudate nucleus. Asymmetry in tracer uptake between the two putamen and caudate nuclei was preserved. These findings indicate that degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in PD is not total even after many years of illness. Data should be considered in exploring underlying causes of progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and development of future novel dopaminergic therapeutic strategies in PD. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society