Pupillometry and 123I-DaTSCAN imaging in Parkinson's disease: a comparison study

Int J Neurosci. 2012 Jan;122(1):26-34. doi: 10.3109/00207454.2011.619285. Epub 2011 Oct 12.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was the evaluation of pupil light reflex (PLR) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) by using a modern pupillometry system and the investigation of its potential relationship with dopamine transporter imaging (DaTSCAN), which is an objective method for the evaluation of presynaptic dopaminergic system. PLR was evaluated using pupillometry in 35 patients with PD without clinical evidence of autonomic dysfunction and 44 healthy matched controls. PLR was elicited using a fully automated pupillometry system and six parameters were measured. Dopamine transporter imaging was performed using radioactive ioflupane (123)I-FP-CIT [(123)I-N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)-nortropane]. A significant increase in latency and a significant decrease in amplitude, maximum constriction velocity, as well as maximum acceleration were observed in PD patients. There was no significant difference in initial radius and minimum radius values. Investigating the relationship between pupillometry parameters and (123)I-FP-CIT binding values, we correlated values from the semiquantitative analysis of radioligand uptake with pupillometry parameters, but we found no significant correlation. This study demonstrates PLR impairment in patients with PD without overt autonomic dysfunction. This impairment does not seem to correspond to the reduction of radioligand binding in the striatum as the result of presynaptic dopaminergic dysfunction, suggesting a different deterioration rate of these systems.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological*
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / complications
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Pupil Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Pupil Disorders / etiology
  • Pupil Disorders / physiopathology
  • Radioligand Assay / methods*
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Reflex, Abnormal / physiology
  • Tropanes* / metabolism

Substances

  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Tropanes
  • 2-carbomethoxy-8-(3-fluoropropyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)tropane