Comparing imaging techniques for diagnosing Parkinson's disease and related conditions

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of [18F]-MFBG PET in assessing cardiac innervation compared to [123I]-MIBG SPECT. The study focuses on distinguishing between Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), as well as between dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Participants will undergo multiple imaging sessions to assess the accuracy and feasibility of these imaging techniques in detecting myocardial changes associated with these conditions. The trial will include healthy volunteers and patients with confirmed diagnoses of PD, MSA, DLB, and AD.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy Controls:

   * Voluntary written informed consent.
   * Use of highly effective methods of birth control.
   * Age between 18 and 85 years.
   * Good health based on medical history, physical examination, clinical laboratory tests, and urinalysis.
   * No history or evidence of major neurological, internal, or psychiatric disorders.
   * Normal structural MRI scan for subjects \< 60 years or minor lesions for subjects \>= 60 years.
2. Parkinson's Disease:

   * Age 45-85 years.
   * Clinically established PD based on Movements Disorder Society diagnostic criteria.
   * Disease duration since onset of motor symptoms: 5 years or longer for one group and less than 5 years for another.
   * Previous abnormal \[18F\]-FE-PE2I PET or \[123I\]-FP-CIT SPECT scan.
   * Ability to understand the patient information brochure and provide written informed consent.
3. Multiple System Atrophy - Parkinsonian Variant:

   * Age 45-85 years.
   * Clinically established or clinically probable MSA-P based on MDS diagnostic criteria.
   * Previous abnormal \[18F\]-FE-PE2I PET or \[123I\]-FP-CIT SPECT scan.
   * Ability to understand the patient information brochure and provide written informed consent.
4. Dementia Due to Alzheimer's Disease:

   * Age 50-85 years.
   * Diagnosis of probable AD with evidence of the AD pathophysiological process.
   * Ability to understand the patient information brochure and provide written informed consent.
5. Dementia with Lewy Bodies:

   * Age 50-85 years.
   * Diagnosis of probable DLB.
   * Previous abnormal \[18F\]-FE-PE2I PET or \[123I\]-FP-CIT SPECT scan.
   * Ability to understand the patient information brochure and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy controls:

   * Major diseases that may interfere with the investigations.
   * Evidence of cognitive impairment.
   * History or evidence of psychiatric disease.
   * Use of illicit drugs or history of drug or alcohol abuse.
   * Chronic medication interfering with cardiac neuronal norepinephrine transporter (NET) or \[18F\]-FE-PE2I imaging.
   * Exposure to ionizing radiation \> 1 mSv in other research studies within the last 12 months.
   * Contraindication for MRI scanning.
   * Claustrophobia or inability to tolerate confinement during PET-MRI scanning.
   * Unwillingness to avoid strenuous physical activity.
   * Lack of understanding of the study procedures.
   * Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
   * Lack of agreement to communicate incidental findings to the general practitioner.
   * Abnormal Allen test or lidocaine hypersensitivity/allergy for subjects willing to undergo arterial sampling.
2. Parkinson's Disease:

   * Neuropsychiatric diseases other than PD.
   * Major internal medical comorbidity, especially diabetes or heart disease.
   * White matter lesion load on FLAIR Fazekas score 2 or higher or other relevant MRI abnormalities.
   * History of alcohol or drug abuse.
   * Previous participation in research studies involving ionizing radiation.
   * Contraindications for MR.
   * Claustrophobia or inability to tolerate confinement during PET scanning.
   * Unwillingness to avoid strenuous physical activity.
   * Lack of understanding of the study procedures.
   * Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
   * Lack of agreement to communicate incidental findings to the general practitioner.
   * Anticoagulant therapy.
3. Multiple System Atrophy - Parkinsonian Variant:

   * Same as for Parkinson's disease.
4. Dementia Due to Alzheimer's Disease:

   * Same as for Parkinson's disease.
5. Dementia with Lewy Bodies:

   * Same as for Parkinson's disease.

Where it's running

• UZ Ghent
  Ghent, Gent, Belgium Recruiting
• UZ Leuven
  Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Koen Van Laere — Professor at KULeuven, department head of nuclear medicine at UZ Leuven
• Study coordinator: Koen Van Laere, Prof. dr.
• Email: koen.vanlaere@UZLeuven.be
• Phone: +3216343715

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.