Differences in [¹²³I]Ioflupane Striatal Binding Between African American and White Patients

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology

Background:

• Parkinson disease (PD) prevalence varies across ethnic groups, being more common in White populations.
• Dopamine transporter (DAT) availability is a key biomarker in PD.
• [123I]ioflupane SPECT imaging assesses DAT binding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ethnic differences in [123I]ioflupane binding between African American and White individuals.
• To determine if ethnicity influences DAT binding, independent of PD status.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of [123I]ioflupane SPECT imaging in African American and White patients.
• Visual grading of scans for presynaptic dopaminergic function (normal/abnormal).
• Quantitative analysis of [123I]ioflupane uptake in striatal subregions using specific binding ratios.

Main Results:

• Abnormal scan status prevalence was similar between ethnic groups.
• African American patients exhibited significantly higher [123I]ioflupane uptake in striata compared to White patients.
• No statistically significant ethnicity-by-abnormal-scan-status interaction was found.

Conclusions:

• Ethnic differences in [123I]ioflupane binding exist between African American and White patients.
• These differences are independent of presynaptic dopaminergic dysfunction.
• Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical relevance of ethnicity on DAT binding.