Metabolic brain networks in patients with Parkinson's disease based on 18F-FDG PET imaging

Abstract

Objective To validate PD-related pattern (PDRP) network as a measure of PD by 18F-FDG PET imaging.Methods Thirty-two PD patients with different severities and 32 healthy controls matched by age and gender were recruited in studies of resting-state brain 18F-FDG PET imaging.To obtain the PDRP,principal component analysis (PCA) was used.The correlations between PDRP expression and the severities of PD (classified by unified PD rating scale (UPDRS) motor scores and Hoehn & Yahr stages) were investigated.The two-sample t test and Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results PDRP was characterized by relative metabolic increases in the putamen,globus pallidus (GP),thalamus,pons,cerebellum and primary motor cortex,and was associated with decreases in the premotor and posterior parietal areas.The value of PDRP expression in PD group (1.605±0.655) was significantly higher than that of healthy controls (0.000±0.523 ; t =10.829,P＜0.001).The value of PDRP expression also correlated significantly with UPDRS motor scores (r=0.760,P＜0.001) and Hoehn & Yahr stages in PD group (r=0.736,P＜0.001).Conclusion The PDRP based on 18F-FDG PET imaging can be useful for identification of PD patients from healthy controls and correlates well with the severity of the disease. Key words: Parkinson disease; Brain; Metabolism; Tomography, emission-computed; Deoxyglucose