Reduced hippocampal 5HT1A PET receptor binding and depression in temporal lobe epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relation of hippocampal 5HT1A receptor binding to symptoms of depression in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Depression is common in people with epilepsy, and reduced 5HT1A binding has been reported in patients with primary depressive disorders.


METHODS
We studied 45 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy confirmed by ictal video-EEG recording. Mood was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Positron emission tomographic measurement of 5HT1A receptors was performed with 18F-FCWAY, a highly specific silent antagonist. 3D-T1-weighted MRI was used to correct for structural atrophy. Receptor distribution volume (V) was corrected for plasma tracer free fraction (f1).


RESULTS
There was a significant inverse relation between ipsilateral hippocampal v/f1 and the BDI. For contralateral hippocampus, there was a nonsignificant trend. Patients with BDI > 20 had significantly lower ipsilateral hippocampal V/f1 than patients in the low and medium groups. There was no significant effect of the presence of mesial temporal sclerosis, focus laterality, or gender on the BDI.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows a relationship between hippocampal 5HT1A binding and depressive symptoms measured by the BDI in patients with epilepsy. The findings parallel results in patients with MDD.
Theodore
William H
WH
Clinical Epilepsy Section, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. theodorw@ninds.nih.gov
Hasler
Gregor
G
Giovacchini
Giampiero
G
Kelley
Kathleen
K
Reeves-Tyer
Pat
P
Herscovitch
Peter
P
Drevets
Wayne
W
D000328:Adult; D003510:Cyclohexanes; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010879:Piperazines; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000378:metabolism*; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D003510:Cyclohexanes; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D010879:Piperazines; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A