Technetium-99m-ECD SPECT in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: a drastic improvement in brain perfusion by antiplatelet therapy

We present a case of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) with repeated transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple cerebral infarcts and ischemic changes in the cerebral white matter. Cerebral angiographies showed no abnormalities. Technetium-99m-ethyl cysteina...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European radiology 2001-01, Vol.11 (12), p.2611-2615
Main Authors: Tokumaru, S, Yoshikai, T, Uchino, A, Matsui, M, Kuroda, Y, Kudo, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies
Anticoagulants
Antiphospholipid Syndrome - diagnostic imaging
Antiphospholipid Syndrome - drug therapy
Aspirin - administration & dosage
Cerebral Infarction - diagnostic imaging
Cerebral Infarction - drug therapy
Cerebrovascular disease
Cysteine - analogs & derivatives
Dementia
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Glycoproteins
Humans
Ischemia
Lupus
Magnetic resonance imaging
Middle Aged
Neurological disorders
Organotechnetium Compounds
Patients
Thrombocytopenia
Thromboembolism
Tomography
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
Transient ischemic attack
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:We present a case of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) with repeated transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple cerebral infarcts and ischemic changes in the cerebral white matter. Cerebral angiographies showed no abnormalities. Technetium-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m-ECD) brain SPECT showed multiple decreased perfusion areas, which were more extensive than the lesions demonstrated on MRI. After treatment with an antiplatelet agent, the patient subsequently recovered from the TIAs. Although no interval changes were observed by MRI after therapy, follow-up Tc-99m-ECD SPECT revealed a marked improvement in brain perfusion. This is the first imaging report of remarkable post-therapy improvement in brain perfusion in APS cases.
ISSN:0938-7994
1432-1084
DOI:10.1007/s003300100841