TECHNETIUM-99M-HMPAO IN TOURETTES-SYNDROME ON NEUROLEPTIC THERAPY ANDAFTER WITHDRAWAL

Both decreased and increased perfusion and metabolism have been descri bed with PET and SPECT in different areas of the brain in patients wit h Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, The aim of this study was to defin e the regional cerebral perfusion pattern in drug-free patients and th e changes in perfusion with the usual neuroleptic treatment, Methods: A group of 13 normal control subjects and 15 unmedicated Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome patients were studied with Tc-99m-HMPAO brain SPEC T. Thirteen of the initial group of patients were retested on neurolep tic treatment. A semiquantitative analysis of the images was performed . Results: Decreased perfusion in orbital and anterior medial regions of both frontal lobes as well as in both temporal lobes was observed i n the nontreated group compared with control subjects, With treatment, a perfusion increase in these frontal regions and in the left medial temporal cortex was observed. Conclusion: Neuroleptic treatment could decrease the hyperactivity of the dopaminergic system leading to impro vement of the clinical symptoms and reperfusion of some previously hyp operfused regions.