In-vivo demonstration of dopaminergic degeneration in dementia with Lewy bodies

Lancet. 1999 Aug 21;354(9179):646-7. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(99)01178-2.

Abstract

With the dopaminergic presynaptic ligand FP-CIT and single photon emission tomography we have shown a severe dopaminergic degeneration in a patient with a necropsy confirmed diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We suggest that functional imaging of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway helps to distinguish DLB from Alzheimer's disease during life.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Dementia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dementia / metabolism
  • Dementia / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dopamine / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lewy Bodies / pathology*
  • Male
  • Nerve Degeneration*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
  • Tropanes

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tropanes
  • 2-carbomethoxy-8-(3-fluoropropyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)tropane
  • Dopamine