Availability of dopamine transporters in heroin-dependent subjects: A 18F-FECNT PET imaging study

- Chronic heroin use induces the striatal DAT reduction.
- 18F-FECNT can be used for in vivo imaging of DAT in drug addiction subjects.
- The older patients may suffer more severe withdraw symptoms than youngers.

This study was to reconfirm the reduced dopamine transporter (DAT) availability in heroin-dependent subjects and validate the use of 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-chlorophenyl)−8-(2-fluoroethyl)-nortropane (18F-FECNT) as a PET radiotracer to assess the changes of striatal DAT in drug addicted subjects. Herein, we assessed DAT standardized uptake values (SUV) of 18F-FECNT in the striatum and cerebellum of 20 heroin-dependent subjects and 10 healthy controls and analyzed the correlation between DAT availability and heroin withdrawal symptom scores and anxiety/depression rating scales in heroin-dependent subjects, as well as the relationship between the withdrawal symptoms scores and age. The striatal DAT availability in heroin-dependent subjects was significantly lower (by ~15.7-17.6%) than that in healthy controls. Age was positively related to heroin withdrawal symptom scores. The withdrawal symptom scores in older patients (Age: 49.5±2.5) were significantly higher (by ~20%) than those in younger patients (Age: 30.9±4.8). These results confirm that chronic heroin use induces striatal DAT reduction, suggesting that 18F-FECNT could be used as an alternative PET imaging radioligand for in vivo imaging of DAT in drug addicted subjects. Moreover, older patients might suffer more severe withdrawal symptoms than younger patients, suggesting that older patients with heroin withdrawal could be given more medication.

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