Striatal [123I] FP-CIT SPECT demonstrates dopaminergic deficit in a sporadic case of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.

Background – The frequent occurrence of movement disorders such as myoclonus, parkinsonism and dystonia, strongly suggests an involvement of the dopaminergic system in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), but this issue has not been specifically addressed yet. Methods – We report a patient who after a sub-acute focal clinical onset, developed the full clinical picture of probable sCJD. Given the early unilateral right extrapyramidal rigidity, the patient was assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography of the dopamine transporter (DAT) using [123I] FP-CIT. Results – DAT-scan demonstrated reduced values of presynaptic receptorial trace in the putamen, particularly on the left side, consistent with functional putaminal dopaminergic presynaptic alteration. Conclusions – The present observation emphasizes the possible role of DAT imaging studies in the investigation of the pathogenesis of movement disorders in CJD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]