HMPAO SPET DOES NOT DISTINGUISH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE AND TIC SYNDROMES IN FAMILIES MULTIPLY AFFECTED WITH GILLES-DE-LA-TOURETTES-SYNDROME

Background. Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome (GTS) is a familial neuro psychiatric disorder characterized by ties and obsessive-compulsive be haviours (OCB). Previous HMPAO SPET studies of subjects with GTS have shown hypoperfusion of striatal and frontal areas. Studies of patients with primary obsessive-compulsive disorder have shown, in contrast, h yperperfusion of similar areas. Methods. Twenty subjects from five fam ilies affected by GTS, including individuals with OCB but no ties, wer e examined using HMPAO SPET. Results. There were abnormalities of regi onal cerebral perfusion in individuals with GTS, OCB and ties. Hypoper fusion was in striatal, frontal and temporal areas. There was no hyper perfusion. Conclusions. Regional cerebral blood flow patterns in indiv iduals with OCB in families affected by GTS are comparable to their re latives with GTS and differ from individuals with primary OCD in the a bsence of a family history of tie disorders.