RESEARCH

Abstract

While most patients receive a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease based on neurological
examination, the cardinal symptoms of this disease do not develop until after a majority of
striatal dopamine and dopamine neurons are lost. Fortunately, DaTscan neuroimaging can detect
more subtle changes in dopamine levels well before the onset of these symptoms, making it
possible to provide patients with early diagnoses and treatment, as well as determine if a tremor
is caused by Parkinson’s disease or some other etiology. However, indirect dopamine agonists
are capable of blocking dopamine receptors and preventing 123I-ioflupane from binding; thus,
significantly decreasing uptake throughout the brain, especially in the striatum. As a result, the
acquired images are not an accurate representation of the patient’s natural dopaminergic
physiology. Given that the resulting SPECT scans are interpreted without considering the
patients symptoms, requiring the discontinuation of these medications prior to DaTscan imaging
can reduce the occurrence of false positive studies and potential misdiagnoses.