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[ 18 F]fallypride PET measurement of striatal and extrastriatal dopamine D 2/3 receptor availability in recently abstinent alcoholics
Author(s) -
Rominger Axel,
Cumming Paul,
Xiong Guoming,
Koller Gabriele,
Böning Guido,
Wulff Melanie,
Zwergal Andreas,
Förster Stefan,
Reilhac Anthonin,
Munk Ole,
Soyka Michael,
Wängler Björn,
Bartenstein Peter,
la Fougère Christian,
Pogarell Oliver
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00355.x
Subject(s) - raclopride , putamen , striatum , abstinence , dopamine receptor d3 , dopamine , psychology , binding potential , temporal cortex , positron emission tomography , nuclear medicine , medicine , endocrinology , neuroscience , dopamine receptor d2 , psychiatry
Positron emission tomography (PET) shows reduced binding of the dopamine D 2/3 antagonist [ 11 C]raclopride in striatum of withdrawn psychostimulant abusers, but not consistently in patients with alcohol dependence (AD). We make first use of the high affinity ligand [ 18 F]fallypride to obtain serial measures of D 2/3 receptor availability in striatal and extrastriatal regions of AD patients undergoing detoxification. Seventeen patients (mean age 44 ± 5y) with AD and 14 age‐matched healthy volunteers participated. Each patient underwent [ 18 F]fallypride PET upon hospital admission, and again 1–2 weeks later; two patients achieving abstinence, and two with substantial harm reduction had additional PET follow‐up at 1 year. Dynamic 180‐minute PET recordings were used for volume of interest (VOI)‐based and voxel‐wise analysis of [ 18 F]fallypride binding potential ( BP ND ). Mean baseline BP ND in striatum of the AD patients (15.7 ± 3.6) was unaltered during short‐term follow‐up, and did not differ from that in healthy controls (16.8 ± 3.0); however, BP ND was 10–20% lower in thalamus, hippocampus, and insular and temporal cortex of the AD patients ( P < 0.05). Age‐dependent declines in BP ND were very small in controls, but more pronounced and widespread in the AD group. Striatal and thalamic BP ND increased by 30% in four patients with long‐term abstinence or reduced alcohol consumption. VOI‐based [ 18 F]fallypride PET analyses revealed group differences in D 2/3 receptor availability primarily in extra‐striatal regions. Age‐related loss of dopamine D 2/3 receptors was more pronounced in AD patients. Receptor availability was unaltered by acute withdrawal, but increased in the subgroup of patients with long‐term follow‐up, suggesting reversibility of receptor changes.