Comparison of MRI, EEG, EPs and ECD-SPECT in Wilson's disease

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of a few methodologies in detecting anatomo-functional brain abnormalities in patients with Wilson's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with Wilson's disease underwent almost simultaneously brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized electroencephalography (EEG), multimodal evoked potentials (EPs) and ECD single photon computerized tomography (SPECT) evaluation. The clinical picture was of the neurologic type in 8 patients and of the hepatic type in 15. RESULTS: MRI was abnormal in 7 patients with neurological manifestations. The EPs proved pathologic in 7 neurologically symptomatic patients and in 4 cases with hepatic form. These results agree with those reported in other case studies. The EEG records were abnormal only in 3 cases. Nevertheless, the most interesting finding of this study is the particular frequency (86%) of diffuse or focal decrease of ECD uptake shown by brain SPECT. CONCLUSION: We highlight the use of this interesting procedure in the therapeutic monitoring of this disease.