Differences in Regional Glucose Metabolism of the Brain Measured with F-18-FDG-PET in Patients with Essential Tremor According to Their Response to Beta-Blockers.
10.3348/kjr.2015.16.5.967
- Author:
In Uk SONG
1
;
Sang Won HA
;
Young Soon YANG
;
Yong An CHUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Essential tremor;
Beta-blockers;
FDG-PET
- MeSH:
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/*pharmacology/therapeutic use;
Aged;
Brain/*drug effects/metabolism/radiography;
Brain Mapping;
Essential Tremor/*diagnosis/drug therapy/radiography;
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/*chemistry;
Glucose/*metabolism;
Humans;
Male;
Middle Aged;
*Positron-Emission Tomography;
Propranolol/pharmacology/therapeutic use;
Radiopharmaceuticals/*chemistry
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2015;16(5):967-972
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: In this study, there was an investigation as to whether there is a functional difference in essential tremor (ET), according to responses to beta-blockers, by evaluating regional changes in cerebral glucose metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen male patients with ET were recruited and categorized into two groups: 8 that responded to medical therapy (group A); and 9 that did not respond to medical therapy (group B). Eleven age-sex matched healthy control male subjects were also included in this study. All subjects underwent F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET, and evaluated for their severity of tremor symptoms, which were measured as a score on the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin tremor rating scale (FTM). The FDG-PET images were analyzed using a statistical parametric mapping program. RESULTS: The mean FTM score 6 months after the initiation of propranolol therapy was significantly lower in group A (18.13 > 8.13), compared with group B (14.67 = 14.67). The glucose metabolism in group A in the left basal ganglia was seen to be decreased, compared with group B. The ET showed a more significantly decreased glucose metabolism in both the fronto-temporo-occipital lobes, precuneus of right parietal lobe, and both cerebellums compared with the healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Essential tremor is caused by electrophysiological disturbances within the cortical-cerebellar networks and degenerative process of the cerebellum. Furthermore, ET may have different pathophysiologies in terms of the origin of disease according to the response to first-line therapy.
