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

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

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

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

See also

• Dopamine transporter
• Parkinson's disease
• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Nuclear medicine
• Gamma camera