title: Increased presynaptic dopamine function in Asperger syndrome.
abstract: The etiology of Asperger syndrome is essentially unknown, but abnormality of the dopamine system has been shown in clinically overlapping disorders. The present study was designed to investigate the presynaptic dopamine function in Asperger syndrome. Eight healthy, drug-free males with Asperger syndrome and five healthy male controls were examined with positron emission tomography using 6-[18F]fluoro-L-DOPA ([18F]FDOPA) as a tracer. In the Asperger syndrome group, the [18F]FDOPA influx (Ki) values were increased in the striatum, i.e. in the putamen and caudate nucleus and in the frontal cortex. The results indicate that the dopamine system is affected in subjects with Asperger syndrome. Partially similar results have also been obtained in schizophrenia, suggesting an overlap not only of the clinical features but also of pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, PL 280, FIN-00029 HYKS, Helsinki, Finland. taina.nieminen@sgic.fi
authors.forename: Taina S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Nieminen-von Wendt
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Metsähonkala
authors.forename: Tuula A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kulomäki
authors.forename: Sargo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aalto
authors.forename: Taina H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Autti
authors.forename: Raija
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanhala
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Eskola
authors.forename: Jörgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Jarmo A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hietala
authors.forename: Lennart O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: von Wendt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D004298:Dopamine