Increased presynaptic dopamine function in Asperger syndrome.
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.
Nieminen-von Wendt
Taina S
TS
Department of Child Neurology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, PL 280, FIN-00029 HYKS, Helsinki, Finland. taina.nieminen@sgic.fi
Metsähonkala
Liisa
L
Kulomäki
Tuula A
TA
Aalto
Sargo
S
Autti
Taina H
TH
Vanhala
Raija
R
Eskola
Olli
O
Bergman
Jörgen
J
Hietala
Jarmo A
JA
von Wendt
Lennart O
LO
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
D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D004298:Dopamine