Chronological changes of123I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy and clinical features of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate chronological changes of ¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy and its relation to clinical features in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and to characterise patients with PD with normal or mildly low MIBG uptakes at their early stages. Methods The participants were 70 patients with PD who underwent ¹²³I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy twice or more. A cluster analysis was performed using parameters calculated from heart to mediastinum (H/M) ratio and washout ratio (WR). Results At baseline, the mean early H/M ratio (H/M(E)), delayed H/M ratio (H/M(D)) and WR were 1.83, 1.69 and 41.7%, respectively. After a mean interval of 3.0 years, follow-up studies showed significantly declined H/M(E) (1.69, pConclusions Follow-up studies of MIBG divided the patients with PD into two major subgroups. A subgroup of patients with PD with normal or mildly low MIBG uptakes at the early stages of illness was characterised by female-dominant, young onset, slow progression in motor dysfunctions and preserved cognitive function. Trial registration number 1033.