Objective: In this study, we investigate the association between motor symptoms and striatal vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT2) binding using 18F-FP-DTBZ PET in PD patients.

Background: While the VMAT2 is expressed by all monoaminergic neurons, the striatal VMAT2 binding reflects mainly dopaminergic projections and is considered to be less impacted by compensatory changes [1]. The standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR) has been proved to be a clinical-compatible parameter of striatal VMAT2 binding [2].

Method: Totally 26 patients with Parkinson’s disease were recruited from the movement disorder wards in Xuanwu Hospital, with age ranged from 29 to 78 and an average Hoehn and Yahr score of 2.3 + 0.9. Patients were scanned for 15 minutes around 90 minutes after an intravenous bolus injection of 18F-FP-DTBZ. The SUVRs were calculated using occipital cortex as reference. Pearson correlations were applied.

Results: Significant negative correlations were detected between age and 18F-FP-DTBZ SUVRs on both sides of caudate, ventral putamen, and the ipsilateral dorsal putamen regarding motor dominancy (Table 1). No significant correlation was observed between Hoehn and Yahr score, MDSUPDRS III and SUVRs.

Conclusion: There is age-effect on the striatal VMAT2 binding in PD, while there is no correlation between motor scores and striatal VMAT2 binding as expected from other studies.

References: 1. Felicio AC, Stoessl AJ. Imaging of Dopamine and Serotonin Receptors and Transporters. In: Seeman P, Madras B, eds. Imaging of the Human Brain in Health and Disease. Boston: Academic Press; 2014: 241-64. 2. Lin KJ, Lin WY, Hsieh CJ, et al. Optimal scanning time window for 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ (18F-AV-133) summed uptake measurements. Nucl Med Biol 2011; 38(8): 1149-55.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/association-between-motor-symptoms-and-striatal-vmat2-binding-in-pd-a-pet-study/