Striatal dopaminergic dysfunction in early-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains to be further elucidated. Thus, as a preliminary study, we aimed to investigate detailed patterns of dopaminergic depletion in five early-onset PD patients with dynamic N-(3-[(18) F]fluoropropyl)-2-carbomethoxy-3-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane (FP-CIT) positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Two patients with parkin mutation showed more symmetric decrease of dopamine transporter (DAT) density in the putamen, whereas others displayed asymmetric reduction of DAT density in the putamen. Notably, only those with parkin mutation revealed more severe dopaminergic deficits in the anteroventral putamen rather than the posterodoral putamen. Our observation suggests, among PD patients, patients with parkin mutation may exhibit the different pattern of striatal dopaminergic depletion.

Parkinson’s Disease, Early-Onset, Dopamine Depletion, Parkin Mutation