Higher striatal dopamine transporters in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder: a SPECT study with [Tc] TRODAT-1

Bipolar Disord. 2010 Feb;12(1):102-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00771.x.

Abstract

Objectives: Dopamine has been implicated in the etiology of bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to explore striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) availability in euthymic bipolar patients.

Methods: Seventeen drug-free euthymic bipolar patients were recruited. The availability of DAT was approximated using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with [99mTc] TRODAT-1.

Results: Compared to the controls, the euthymic bipolar patients had significantly higher availability of striatal DAT.

Conclusions: Even for patients in the euthymic state, the DAT availability is still higher than that of the controls.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bipolar Disorder* / diagnostic imaging
  • Bipolar Disorder* / pathology
  • Bipolar Disorder* / physiopathology
  • Corpus Striatum / diagnostic imaging*
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism*
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Organotechnetium Compounds*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods
  • Tropanes*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tropanes
  • technetium Tc 99m TRODAT-1