J. Tauscher et al., [I-123] beta-CIT and single photon emission computed tomography reveal reduced brain serotonin transporter availability in bulimia nervosa, BIOL PSYCHI, 49(4), 2001, pp. 326-332
Background: Impaired serotonin transmission has been implicated in the path
ophysiology of eating disorders. We investigated the in vivo availability o
f brain serotonin transporters and dopamine transporters in bulimia nervosa
patients.
Methods: Approximately 24 hours after injection of [I-123]-2 beta -carbomet
hoxy-3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane([I-123] beta -CIT), single photon emissio
n computed tomography scans were performed in 10 medication-free, female bu
limic patients and 10 age-matched healthy females. For quantification of br
ain serotonin transporter and dopamine transporter availability, a ratio of
specific to non-specific [I-123] beta -CIT brain binding was used (V-3" =
target region - cerebellum/cerebellum).
Results: Drug-free bulimia nervosa patients showed a 17% reduced brain sero
tonin transporter availability in the hypothalamus and thalamus, as compare
d with healthy control subjects (2.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.4, p = .026), an
d a similar reduction in striatal dopamine transporter availability. There
was a negative correlation of illness duration and serotonin transporter av
ailability (r = -.65; p = .042) and a strong positive correlation between h
ypothalmic/thalamic and striatal V-3" (r = .80, p < .001).
Conclusions: This first report of reduced [I-123] <beta>-CIT binding in a r
elatively small group of patients with bulimia nervosa suggests a reduced h
ypothalamic and thalamic serotonin transporter availability in bulimia, whi
ch is more pronounced with longer duration of illness. (C) 2001 Society of
Biological Psychiatry.