ioflupane at a glance
Medicine class
Diagnostic radiopharmaceutical for brain SPECT imaging
Main role
Supports diagnosis of clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndromes and selected dementia presentations in adults
Administration
Given slowly into a vein by authorised nuclear medicine staff after thyroid protection
Food and drink
Usually unrestricted, but follow the department's instructions
What is ioflupane used for?
Licensed diagnostic uses in adults include:
Helping distinguish essential tremor from parkinsonian syndromes when diagnosis is uncertain. It cannot distinguish Parkinson's disease from multiple system atrophy or progressive supranuclear palsy.
Helping distinguish probable dementia with Lewy bodies from Alzheimer's disease. It cannot distinguish dementia with Lewy bodies from Parkinson's disease dementia.
How does ioflupane work?
Radiolabelled ioflupane binds mainly to dopamine transporters on nerve endings in the striatum. A gamma camera detects its distribution. Reduced striatal binding indicates loss of presynaptic nigrostriatal function, but images must be interpreted alongside clinical assessment.
How to take ioflupane
Ioflupane is administered in a nuclear medicine department rather than taken at home.
Tell the team about pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergies, and all prescribed, non-prescribed or recreational substances.
Do not stop any medicine unless instructed by the referring clinician or nuclear medicine team.
Thyroid-blocking treatment is given beforehand to reduce thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine.
The injection is given slowly into an arm vein. Keep your head still during the scan.
Drink fluids and empty your bladder regularly afterwards, following local radiation-safety instructions.
ioflupane side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache
Get urgent medical advice
- Hypersensitivity, potentially causing breathing difficulty, rash, hives, itching or swelling
- A marked fall in blood pressure with severe dizziness, faintness or collapse
ioflupane in pregnancy
Ioflupane is contraindicated during pregnancy because it exposes the fetus to ionising radiation. Tell the department if pregnancy is possible or a period is late; a non-ionising alternative may need consideration.
ioflupane while breastfeeding
Tell the nuclear medicine team beforehand. The investigation may be delayed where appropriate. If it proceeds, breastfeeding must be temporarily interrupted and expressed milk discarded according to the specialist plan.
ioflupane interactions
Medicines and recreational substances can alter dopamine-transporter binding and make the scan harder to interpret. Any interruption must be individually agreed because abrupt withdrawal may be harmful.
Amfetamine, dexamfetamine and methylphenidate
High-affinity dopamine-transporter binding may interfere with the result.
Bupropion, modafinil and phentermine
May alter tracer binding and affect interpretation.
Cocaine
Dopamine-transporter binding may substantially interfere with the image.
Common questions about ioflupane
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is ioflupane a treatment for Parkinson's disease?
No. It provides diagnostic imaging information and does not improve symptoms or slow disease progression.
Can it identify the exact parkinsonian disorder?
No. It cannot distinguish Parkinson's disease from multiple system atrophy or progressive supranuclear palsy, so clinical assessment remains essential.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.