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.

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.

• Authors: In-Uk Song, Sang-Won Ha, Young-Soon Yang, Yong-An Chung
• Journal: Korean journal of radiology (Korean J Radiol) 2015 Sep-Oct Vol. 16 Issue 5 Pg. 967-72 ISSN: 2005-8330 [Electronic] Korea (South)
• PMID: 26357492 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Propranolol
• Glucose

Topics

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Aged
• Brain (diagnostic imaging, drug effects, metabolism)
• Brain Mapping
• Essential Tremor (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 (chemistry)
• Glucose (metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Propranolol (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Radiography
• Radiopharmaceuticals (chemistry)