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Beta-CIT SPECT demonstrates reduced availability of serotonin transporters in patients with Fatal Familial Insomnia
S Klöppel1, W Pirker, T Brücke
1Institute of Neurology, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is a rare hereditary human prion disease with unique clinical features including progressive sleep impairment and autonomic dysfunction. The serotonergic system is considered to be involved in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. In this study we demonstrate a reduced availability of serotonin transporters of 57% and 73% respectively in a thalamus-hypothalamus region of two FFI patients examined with beta-CIT SPECT as compared to age-expected control values.

