Detection of isolated cerebrovascular beta-amyloid with Pittsburgh compound B

Ann Neurol. 2008 Nov;64(5):587-91. doi: 10.1002/ana.21528.

Abstract

Imaging of cerebrovascular beta-amyloid (cerebral amyloid angiopathy) is complicated by the nearly universal overlap of this pathology with Alzheimer's pathology. We performed positron emission tomographic imaging with Pittsburgh Compound B on 42-year-old man with early manifestations of Iowa-type hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a form of the disorder with little or no plaque deposits of fibrillar beta-amyloid. The results demonstrated increased Pittsburgh Compound B retention selectively in occipital cortex, sparing regions typically labeled in Alzheimer's disease. These results offer compelling evidence that Pittsburgh Compound B positron emission tomography can noninvasively detect isolated cerebral amyloid angiopathy before overt signs of tissue damage such as hemorrhage or white matter lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / analysis*
  • Aniline Compounds*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain Mapping / methods
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / metabolism*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Arteries / metabolism
  • Cerebral Arteries / pathology
  • Cerebral Arteries / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Occipital Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Occipital Lobe / metabolism
  • Occipital Lobe / physiopathology
  • Plaque, Amyloid / diagnostic imaging
  • Plaque, Amyloid / metabolism
  • Plaque, Amyloid / pathology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Thiazoles*

Substances

  • 2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Thiazoles