Orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson syndromes correlates to the degree of cardiac denervation assessed by HED PET

Background: Recently we demonstrated in a small cohort of patients that assessment of (postganglionic) sympathetic myocardial innervation using C-11-hydroxyephedrine (HED) and positron emission tomography (PET) might help to differentiate Parkinson syndromes. Our findings were in line with other reports using I-123-MIBG or F-18-Fluorodopamine as markers of adrenergic innervation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the degree cardiac denervation correlates to the presence and severity of orthostatic hypotension. Methods: 22 patients with Parkinson syndromes (male:female 1:1, mean age 63±7.3yrs,…