Description
loflupane was launched as a new imaging agent for investigation of the
dopaminergic neurons and the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and related
syndromes. This (
123I) iodine-labeled agent was developed for imaging with single-photon
emission computed tomography (SPECT); it binds to dopamine transporters on cerebral
neurons, enabling the detection of an eventual loss of functional neurons, particularly in
the striatal region. The use in clinical routine of SPECT technique with this new agent
generates reliable and reproducible results in healthy control subjects as well as in patients
with Parkinson’s disease. So, it displays a quantification of striatal dopaminergic function
and can help in the identification of the parkinsonian syndromes and their differentiation
from syndromes due to other diseases. The major metabolic reactions in healthy humans are hydrolysis of the ester bond to the free acid and N-dealkylation to the
123-I labeled noranalog.