Clinical features of cases whose cerebral blood flow was preserved only in the basal ganglia region

In the series of our studies of positron emission tomography (PET), we had some cases whose cerebral blood flow was reduced in the cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem, and was preserved only in the basal ganglia region. We studied their clinical features and electrophysiological findings of these cases. These 5 cases included neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, Krabbe disease, Tay-Sachs disease, progressive myoclonus epilepsy and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Clinically they showed symptoms associated with diffuse cerebral and brain stem involvements. Electrophysiological studies also revealed the involvements of cerebrum and brain stem. These 5 cases were classified to persistent vegetative state clinically. Vegetative state was considered to be heterogeneous concerning about cerebral metabolism. There may be one group presenting a peculiar cerebral metabolic condition described here in vegetative states. And this condition may be specific to some neurodegenerative or metabolic disorders that involve cerebellum and brain stem as well as cerebrum.