Ioflupane (123I)

Ioflupane (123I) is a radiopharmaceutical agent used in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. It is a radioactive compound that binds to dopamine transporter proteins in the brain, allowing for imaging of the dopamine system.

Chemistry[edit | edit source]

Ioflupane (123I) is a tropane derivative that is labelled with iodine-123, a radioactive isotope of iodine. The compound is also known as 123I-FP-CIT, with FP-CIT standing for N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane. The iodine-123 isotope decays by electron capture to an excited state of tellurium-123. The excited state then relaxes by emitting gamma radiation with a maximum energy of 159 keV.

Medical use[edit | edit source]

Ioflupane (123I) is used in nuclear medicine to diagnose Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. It is injected into a patient's bloodstream, where it crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to dopamine transporter proteins in the brain. A gamma camera is then used to capture images of the distribution of the compound in the brain, which can be used to identify areas of reduced dopamine activity.

Side effects[edit | edit source]

Common side effects of Ioflupane (123I) include headache, dizziness, and vertigo. In rare cases, it can cause allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.