Abstract:
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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine differences in striatal post-synaptic dopamine D2 receptor binding characteristics using [18F]-Fluoroethyl-spiperone (FESP) dynamic PET imaging of the brain in alcoholic and control subjects.
Methods and Materials: Seven detoxified alcoholics (ages 35-55) and six non-alcoholic control subjects (ages 25-55) underwent dynamic brain PET imaging following administration of 2.5-5 mCi of [18F]-FESP intravenously. The test subjects had severe form of alcoholism. The brain scans were obtained on a Siemens ECAT ART system and the images were attenuation-corrected using 137Cs transmission scans. The images were acquired in 128x128 matrix and reconstructed using filtered back projection with a Gaussian filter using a kernel of 4 mm. The entire 600-sec. dynamic series of 46 images was summed and region of interest analysis performed on slices through the striatum and cerebellum. Dopamine D2 receptor [18F]-FESP binding was determined by measuring the striatum/cerebellum ratio (indicator of Bmax/Kd ratio). An unpaired one-sided Students' t-test was conducted on the ratios in alcoholic and control subjects. All tests and control subjects demonstrated no significant intracranial lesions on MRI scans.
Results: The group mean (standard deviation) for striatum/cerebellum ratio for alcoholic and control subjects measured 2.55 (.47) and 1.89 (.52) respectively uncorrected for age-related decline of D2 receptors (p value < .018, unpaired one-sided t-test). The increased striatum/cerebellum ratio with FESP contrasts with earlier reports of decreased values with [11C]raclopride. This maybe due to the differences in binding characteristics of raclopride and FESP.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates significant differences in binding of FESP to post-synaptic D2 dopamine receptors in alcoholic subjects compared to control subjects.
Questions about this event email: rverma@ucla.edu
Verma MD, R,
Brain Dopamine D2 Receptor Binding in Alcoholic and Control Subjects. Radiological Society of North America 2003 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 30 - December 5, 2003 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2003/3108141.html
