Imaging of amyloid burden and distribution in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Ann Neurol. 2007 Sep;62(3):229-34. doi: 10.1002/ana.21164.

Abstract

Objective: Cerebrovascular deposition of beta-amyloid (cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA]) is a major cause of hemorrhagic stroke and a likely contributor to vascular cognitive impairment. We evaluated positron emission tomographic imaging with the beta-amyloid-binding compound Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) as a potential noninvasive method for detection of CAA. We hypothesized that amyloid deposition would be observed with PiB in CAA, and based on the occipital predilection of CAA pathology and associated hemorrhages, that specific PiB retention would be disproportionately greater in occipital lobes.

Methods: We compared specific cortical PiB retention in 6 nondemented subjects diagnosed with probable CAA with 15 healthy control subjects and 9 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Results: All CAA and AD subjects were PiB-positive, both by distribution volume ratio measurements and by visual inspection of positron emission tomographic images. Global cortical PiB retention was significantly increased in CAA (distribution volume ratio 1.18 +/- 0.06) relative to healthy control subjects (1.04 +/- 0.10; p = 0.0009), but was lower in CAA than in AD subjects (1.41 +/- 0.17; p = 0.002). The occipital-to-global PiB ratio, however, was significantly greater in CAA than in AD subjects (0.99 +/- 0.07 vs 0.86 +/- 0.05; p = 0.003).

Interpretation: We conclude that PiB-positron emission tomography can detect cerebrovascular beta-amyloid and may serve as a method for identifying the extent of CAA in living subjects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / complications
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Aniline Compounds*
  • Biopsy
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / complications
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / metabolism*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Cohort Studies
  • Education
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Occipital Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Thiazoles*

Substances

  • 2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thiazoles