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. 2012 Feb 20;3:22. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2012.00022

Deep Brain Stimulation of the Pallidum is Effective and Might Stabilize Striatal D2 Receptor Binding in Myoclonus–Dystonia

R J Beukers 1,*, M F Contarino 1, J D Speelman 1, P R Schuurman 2, J Booij 3, Marina A J Tijssen 1,*
PMCID: PMC3282300  PMID: 22363319

Abstract

Purpose: To assess clinical efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the pallidum in Myoclonus–Dystonia (M–D) patients, and to compare pre- and post-operative striatal dopamine D2 receptor availability. Methods: Clinical parameters were scored using validated rating scales for myoclonus and dystonia. Dopamine D2 receptor binding of three patients was studied before surgery and approximately 2 years post-operatively using 123-I-iodobenzamide Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. Two patients who did not undergo surgery served as controls. Results: Clinically, the three M–D patients improved 83, 17, and 100%, respectively on the myoclonus rating scale and 78, 23, and 65% on the dystonia rating scale after DBS. Dopamine D2 receptor binding did not change after surgery. In the two control subjects, binding has lowered further. Conclusion: These findings confirm that DBS of the pallidum has beneficial effects on motor symptoms in M–D and suggest this procedure might stabilize dopamine D2 receptor binding.

Keywords: myoclonus, dystonia, IBZM-SPECT, DBS

Introduction

Myoclonus–Dystonia (M–D) is a movement disorder clinically characterized by myoclonic jerks and dystonic postures or movements of the upper body, often combined with psychiatric symptoms such as depressed mood or anxiety (Zimprich et al., 2001). M–D is autosomal dominantly inherited and is frequently caused by mutations in the epsilon-sarcoglycan gene (SGCE) on chromosome 7q21 (DYT-11; Klein, 2003; Asmus and Gasser, 2004).

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) is currently the most promising technique for treatment of patients with severe medically refractory dystonia. Three randomized controlled trials investigated this procedure in primary generalized dystonia and found significant clinical improvement on the Burke–Fahn–Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) after 6 and 12 months (Vidailhet et al., 2005; Kupsch et al., 2006; Valldeoriola et al., 2010), sustained after a 3-year follow up period (Vidailhet et al., 2007). More specifically on M–D, a recent study of GPi-DBS in five M–D patients found striking beneficial effects on dystonia and particularly on myoclonus (Azoulay-Zyss et al., 2011) as did another study, comparing GPi-DBS and thalamic nucleus ventralis intermedius (VIM)-DBS in 10 M–D patients with either target (Gruber et al., 2010). Additional case reports describe good response of motor symptoms after VIM-DBS or GPi-DBS in M–D patients (Cif et al., 2004; Foncke et al., 2007; Kuncel et al., 2009; Kurtis et al., 2010). To summarize, GPi-DBS has been reported in only 19 M–D patients so far and positive results were reported, although no class I or II trial has been reported.

Neuronal models of dystonia have postulated hyperactivity of the direct putamen–pallidal pathway with reduced inhibitory output of the internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi), with subsequently increased thalamic input to the (pre-) motor cortex, resulting in excessive motor cortex excitation (Vitek, 2002). Previously, our group showed statistically significantly lower striatal dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) binding in M–D patients, possibly due to decreased D2R availability or increased levels of endogenous dopamine and consequently competitive D2R occupancy (Beukers et al., 2009), consistent with a mouse model showing increased striatal dopamine and metabolites in SGCE knockout mice (Yokoi et al., 2006).

In Parkinson’s disease several studies regarding the effect of DBS on D2R have been published (Abosch et al., 2003; Hilker et al., 2003; Hesse et al., 2008). Acute stimulation (stimulator on versus off) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) did not induce sufficient endogenous dopamine to influence D2R binding significantly (Abosch et al., 2003; Yokoi et al., 2006; Hesse et al., 2008). Hesse and co-workers showed a statistically significant increase of IBZM binding to D2R after STN-DBS (pre- versus post-surgery; stimulator on; Abosch et al., 2003). However, the opposite was found after GPi-DBS (Nakajima et al., 2003). To our knowledge, studies comparing D2R availability before and after DBS have never been performed in any type of dystonia. The first aim of this study is to report the clinical effects of GPi-DBS on M–D patients who had surgery in our center. Moreover, as our previous study showed decreased striatal receptor binding in M–D patients (Vidailhet et al., 2005), our second aim was to examine whether D2R may increase (reflecting normalization) after GPi-DBS.

Materials and Methods

Patients

Three male M–D patients (ages 29, 48, and 48 years) at the time of the first single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan, in whom the DYT-11 mutation was genetically confirmed (1 basepair insertion: 885Tins, 304 C > T and 619–620 delAG, respectively), were studied using [123-I]-IBZM SPECT before and approximately 2 years after bilateral simultaneous GPi DBS implant. Surgery was performed under local anesthesia, with the use of intraoperative microelectrode recordings and test stimulation. Post-operative CT-scans were co-registered with the frame-based pre-operative MRI to confirm positioning of the electrodes in the GPi. The pre-operative [123-I]-IBZM SPECT scans of these 3 patients and of 12 other mutation-positive M–D patients were reported previously (Beukers et al., 2009). From this same study population, two genetically confirmed M–D patients who had not received DBS agreed to be re-scanned after approximately 3.5 years to serve as controls (both mutation 619–620 delAG, related to subject 3). None of the patients had a history of neuroleptic drug usage or any other dopamine receptor blocking agent. Dystonia and myoclonus were assessed at the time of the first and second scan using the BFMDRS (Burke et al., 1985) and the Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale (Frucht et al., 2002). Subject 2 was the only one who had received Botulinum toxin injection in cervical muscles approximately 9 weeks prior to the first scan; for this reason, in this subject the myoclonus and dystonia scores of his pre-operative assessment were used approximately 3 months after his last botulinum toxin injection. Patient characteristics and time-frames of scanning are summarized in Table 1. All subjects gave written informed consent and the study was approved by the local medical ethics committee.

Table 1.

Clinical characteristics.

N M/F Age BFMDRS/UMRS at first scan (before GPi-DBS) BFMDRS/UMRS at second scan (after GPi-DBS) % Change Stimulation settings L/R Time after GPi DBS Time between scans (months)
1 M 29 18/46 4/8 −78/−83 3.5 V 120 us/130 Hz 27 months 30
2.8 V 90 us/130 Hz
2 M 48 26/70* 20/58 −23/−17 3.2 V 60 us/130 Hz 12 months 28
3.0 V 60 us/130 Hz
3 M 48 20/100 7/0 −65/−100 3.0 V 60 us/130 Hz 19 months 29
BFMDRS/UMRS at first scan BFMDRS/UMRS at second scan –
4 M 53 4/4 4/4 0/0 – No DBS 43
5 M 51 26/12 6/10 −77/−17 – No DBS 46
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N, subject; M, male; BFMDRS, Burke Fahn Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale; UMRS, Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale; GPi-DBS, globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulation; age, age at time of first [123-I]-IBZM SPECT scan. *Scoring performed before DBS, 15 months after first scan.

Data acquisition

The IBZM-SPECT methods, for data acquisition and processing were identical for all scans (Beukers et al., 2009). Shortly, subjects received a potassium iodide solution to block thyroid uptake of free radioactive iodide. Approximately 100 MBq of [123-I]-IBZM was given intravenously as bolus, followed by continuous infusion of 25 MBq/h to achieve unchanging regional brain activity levels (Laruelle et al., 1995; Booij et al., 1997). Acquisition of the images was started 2 h after the bolus injection (Frucht et al., 2002).

Single photon emission computed tomography studies were performed using a 12-detector single slice brain-dedicated scanner (Neurofocus 810, which is an upgrade of the Strichmann Medical Equipment).

Data processing

Attenuation correction of all images was performed (Ishibashi et al., 2009). Images were reconstructed in 3D mode (http://www.neurophysics.com). These 3D reconstructed images were then randomly numbered by an independent physician and analyzed blindly by one observer (R. J. Beukers). For quantification, a region-of-interest (ROI) analysis was performed. For analysis of striatal [123-I]-IBZM binding, the ratio of specific striatal to occipital binding (representing non-specific binding) was calculated by averaging four transverse slices, representing the most intense striatal binding. Standard templates with fixed ROIs were manually placed on the striatum and occipital cortex, and then the ratio of striatal to occipital binding (SOR) was calculated as follows: (total striatal binding − occipital binding)/occipital binding. The analyses of the 3D reconstructed images was performed again the following week, variability and the intraclass correlation coefficient were then calculated to assess intra-observer reliability.

Data analysis

Symmetry of the left and right SORs was calculated using a Wilcoxon signed ranks test in all patients, this analysis was performed using SPSS version 17. Because the number of patients is too small to perform meaningful statistics between groups, none were calculated. Instead, all data is presented in Tables 1 and 2. All videos used to assess the UMRS and BFMDRS were scored by a movement disorder specialist (J. D. Speelman).

Table 2.

SORs before and after GPi-DBS.

Subject Before GPi-DBS
 After GPi-DBS
SOR left SOR right SOR mean SOR left SOR right SOR mean
1 0.90 0.85 0.87 0.83 0.89 0.86
2 1.06 0.90 0.98 1.21 1.07 1.14
3 1.04 1.06 1.05 0.86 0.93 0.89
No DBS, first scan No DBS, second scan
4 1.14 1.14 1.14 0.93 0.82 0.87
5 1.05 0.94 1.00 0.66 0.73 0.69
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GPi-DBS, globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulation; SOR, striatal to occipital ratio.

Results

Clinical characteristics

Patient characteristics are summarized in Table 1. The patients who underwent DBS all reported significant improvement of their symptoms at the time of the second [123-I]-IBZM SPECT scan. When formally scored on video, GPi-DBS patients had improved 78, 23, and 65%, respectively on the BFMDRS and 83, 17, and 100% on the UMRS. One patient not having undergone DBS improved on the BFMDRS (77%) and on the UMRS (17%), the other patient showed no change on the clinical rating scales.

[123-I]-IBZM single photon emission computed tomography

Variability between the two analyses performed with a 1-week interval was 3.7%, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 93.5%. Results of second analysis are presented in Table 2. No asymmetry between left and right SORs was found, either at the first or at the second scan (first scan p = 0.50; second scan p = 0.69 respectively). No consistent differences between the measurement before and after DBS are discernable (SOR mean: one unchanged, one higher, one lower). Of both subjects who did not have DBS, the mean SOR was lower after surgery compared to before surgery.

Discussion

Globus pallidus internus-DBS improved greatly myoclonus and, to a lesser extent dystonia, consistent with earlier studies (Gruber et al., 2010; Azoulay-Zyss et al., 2011). In our previous study, we found decreased D2R in 15 M–D patients, possibly reflecting an increase in endogenous striatal dopamine (Beukers et al., 2009). In this study, no large effect of GPi-DBS on D2R binding potential in M–D patients was observed despite obvious clinical benefit on myoclonus and dystonia rating scales. This lack of change is consistent with studies regarding STN-DBS in Parkinson’s disease, but not consistent with the GPi-DBS study describing normalization (decrease) of D2R binding potential in Parkinson’s disease. A drawback of this study is the small number of patients, rendering it impossible to reach statistical significance. It was not our intention to reach a predefined level of significance as much as it was to report an interesting finding. Of course, a much larger sample size is needed to warrant firmer conclusions. However, interestingly, in both M–D patients who did not had surgery, a clear decrease of D2R binding was observed. The changes on the clinical rating scales in patient 5 might be attributed to symptom variability over time or variable effect of medication. In addition, this patient reported being very anxious at the time of the first video-scoring and concomitant worsening of his motor symptoms. At the time of the second video-scoring, the patient reported being much less anxious, while medication had not changed in the mean time.

Progression of M–D could be associated with a further decline of D2R, which may be mitigated by DBS of the GPi. Although in our previous study we did not find an association between disease severity and D2R across patients, this might be true for the individual patient. The decline of SORs in non-operated patients is faster than the 5% per decade previously reported in the literature in normal subjects (Laruelle et al., 1995); for this reason it is unlikely that the slightly longer time interval between the first and second scan in this group is the cause of the lowered D2R binding. Future imaging studies on the effects of disease progression and the effects of DBS in larger groups of M–D patients having undergone and not having undergone DBS are needed to test this hypothesis.

In conclusion, this study confirms the clinical efficacy of GPi-DBS in M–D, that is not paralleled by any discernable changes on the dopaminergic pathways as measured with [123-I]-IBZM SPECT. In non-operated M–D patients D2R binding seems to have lowered even further, possibly reflecting a stabilizing effect of GPi-DBS on the dopaminergic pathways.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the following research grants: NWO-VIDI grant (project 016.056.333, to R. J. Beukers and M. A. J. Tijssen), and the ONWA-meetfonds (ABIP).

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