Article

Technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m ECD) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the brain was used to detect abnormal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) and normal findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT was performed to detect brain lesions showing hypoperfusion in 32 female patients with pSS and definite neuropsychiatric symptoms or signs. Seventeen female patients with pSS without neuropsychiatric symptoms and signs were included as a control group for comparison. All of the 49 patients with pSS had normal findings on brain MRI Results: Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT showed brain regions with hypoperfusion in 18 (56.3%) of the 32 patients, and parietal lobes were the most common areas with such lesions. By contrast, Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT showed brain regions with hypoperfusion in only three (17.6%) of the 17 patients with pSS without neuropsychiatric symptoms or signs. Conclusion: This study suggests that Tc-99m ECD SPECT is a sensitive tool for detecting regions of hypoperfusion in the brains of patients with pSS and neuropsychiatric symptoms or signs and normal findings on brain MRI However, a review of the literature showed that the Tc-99m ECD SPECT findings in patients with pSS were non-specific.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Identifiant basis : 2003225148