Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) to Study Paroxysmal Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders

Hyperkinesis Clinical Trial

Official title: The Physiology of Paroxysmal Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders: A SPECT Study

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will use single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to determine what areas of the brain are responsible for paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders. Patients with these disorders have sudden, brief attacks of movement, similar to epileptic seizures, but without loss of consciousness. SPECT is a nuclear medicine test that produces three-dimensional images of the brain, showing blood flow and function in different brain regions. This test, which can detect the focus of epileptic seizures, will be used in this study to scan patients while they are experiencing a hyperkinetic movement attack, while they are not having and attack, and while they are simulating an attack.

Patients 18 years of age and older who have paroxysmal movement attacks that can be easily induced by a specific trigger, such as a sudden movement or prolonged exercise, may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and review of their medical records, physical examination, videotape of attacks, and, for women, a pregnancy test.

Participants will have three SPECT scans, separated from each other by at least 48 hours. Before each scan, the subject will perform an activity that ordinarily precipitates a movement attack, such as standing up from a chair, assuming a certain posture, or doing something strenuous. Each scan will try to record one of the following conditions:

• The subject performs the trigger activity, but does not have an attack;

• The subject performs the trigger activity and has an involuntary attack as a result;

• The subject performs the trigger activity and does not have an attack, but then mimics an attack voluntarily.

After the condition is recorded, the subject will be given an injection of a radioactive agent called 99m Technetium and will then relax quietly for 40 to 60 minutes before the SPECT scan. For the scan, the subject lies on an examination table and the SPECT camera is moved near and around the head to image the brain. The scan takes about 40 minutes.

Participants will also undergo one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. For this test, the subject lies in a narrow cylinder (the scanner), while pictures of the brain are taken. Earplugs are worn to muffle loud noises caused by electrical switching of radio frequency circuits used in the scanning process. The procedure takes about 30 minutes.

Clinical Trial Description

The purpose of this study is to determine the areas of the brain responsible for paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders. Paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders have been clinically recognized for a long time, although the exact neurophysiological mechanism leading to paroxysms of hyperkinetic movement attacks is not well understood. Paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders are heterogenous, and the exact mechanism may differ in each subcategory. In paroxysmal dyskinesias, the idiopathic forms of paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders, it is speculated that transient functional abnormality at the cellular level occurs in the basal ganglia without organic irreversible damage. Ion channel dysfunction is an attractive hypothesis to explain such transient dysfunction. Some patients with paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders have a psychogenic etiology.

A promising technique to evaluate physiological changes in the brain during an attack is ictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanning. Ictal SPECT is a reliable method to detect a seizure focus during an epileptic seizure. We will utilize ictal SPECT scanning techniques during, and between attacks, and while they are simulating such attacks. The differential activation between the attacks of hyperkinetic movements and the voluntary movements may shed light on the regions of the brain and neurophysiological mechanisms responsible for generation of paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders. ;

Study Design

N/A

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hyperkinesis
• Movement Disorders

• NCT number: NCT00051337
• Study type: Observational
• Source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 2003
• Completion date: January 2005