Journal Title
Title of Journal: Metab Brain Dis
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Abbravation: Metabolic Brain Disease
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Authors: Yuki Watanabe Akinobu Kato Kei Sawara Roger F Butterworth Toshiaki Sasaki Kazunori Terasaki Koichiro Sera Kazuyuki Suzuki
Publish Date: 2008/08/07
Volume: 23, Issue: 3, Pages: 265-274
Abstract
Alterations of the brain dopamine system have been implicated in the neurological complications of chronic liver failure The present study was aimed at the measurement of dopamine D2 binding sites in cirrhotic patients by positron emission tomography PET using 11CNmethylspiperone as ligand The regions of interest ROI were designated on a threedimensional stereotaxic ROI template 3DSRT The pixel values of twelve ROIs corrected by the pixel value of the cerebellum after 80 min static scanning were used to quantitate changes in binding D2 binding sites were significantly decreased in the hippocampus and thalamus of cirrhotic patients and were positively correlated with serum bilirubin levels and Child–Pugh scores and were negatively correlated with prothrombin times thalamus Loss of D2 sites was greater in thalamus and hippocampus of alcoholic cirrhotics compared to nonalcoholics Statistically significant correlations were also observed between D2 binding sites in hippocampus thalamus and lenticular nuclei and history of overt encephalopathy These findings suggest that D2 receptor binding in some regions of brain in cirrhotic patients is influenced by factors such as the severity of liver damage and history of alcohol dependency or overt encephalopathy Alterations of D2 receptor sites indicative of dopaminergic synaptic dysfunction could play an important role in the pathogenesis of the cognitive and motor disturbances associated with chronic liver failure
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