Striatal dysfunction in attention deficit and hyperkinetic disorder.
We have previously reported that periventricular structures are hypoperfused in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study has expanded the number of patients, who were divided into two groups: six patients with pure ADHD, and 13 patients with ADHD in combination with other neurologic symptoms. By using xenon 133 inhalation and emission tomography, the regional cerebral blood flow distribution was determined and compared with a control group. Striatal regions were found to be hypoperfused and, by inference, hypofunctional in both groups. This hypoperfusion was statistically significant in the right striatum in ADHD, and in both striatal regions in ADHD with other neuropsychologic and neurologic symptoms. The primary sensory and sensorimotor cortical regions were highly perfused. Methylphenidate increased flow to striatal and posterior periventricular regions, and tended to decrease flow to primary sensory regions. Low striatal activity, partially reversible with methylphenidate, appears to be a cardinal feature in ADHD.
Department of Neuropediatrics, J. F. Kennedy Institute, Glostrup, Denmark.
H C
HC
Lou
L
L
Henriksen
P
P
Bruhn
H
H
Børner
J B
JB
Nielsen
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002648:Child; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes
D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes; D008774:Methylphenidate