Dopamine transporter SPECT imaging of the peroral addictors of compound codeine phosphate solution / 中华核医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the damage to striatum in patients perorally addicted to compound codeine phosphate solution by using the brain dopamine transporter SPECT imaging. Methods Patients p erorally addicted to compound codeine phosphate solution ( n = 29 ) and addicted to heroin ( n = 27 ), as well as healthy volunteers (n = 31 ) were included in the study. Each of them underwent dopamine transporter (DAT) SPECT imaging with 99Tcm-2β-[N, N'-bis-( 2- mercaptoethyl ) ethylenediamino] methyl, 3β-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane (99Tcm-TRODAT-1). The striatum volume (V, cm3), mass (m, g) and radiactivity ratio (Ra) of striatum to whole brain were calculated using physio-mathematical modeling method.R esults Bilateral striatum of healthy volunteers showed typical "panda eyes" pattern and the distribution of DAT was uniform and symmetrical. Bilateral striatum of patients addicted to compound codeine phosphate showed impaired tracer uptake, similar to those addicted to heroin. The V, m and Ra of bilateral striatum of patients addicted to compound codeine phosphate were (23.68 ±4.94) cm3, (24.87 ±5.19) g and (5.01 ±0. 88 ) %, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of healthy controls ( 35.39 ± 4.42 ) cm3,(37.16 ±4.64) g and (7.93 ±0.86)% (t = -9.69, -9.69, - 13.01, all P =0.000), but significantly higher than those addicted to heroin ( 18.87 ± 4.66 ) cm3, ( 19.81 ± 4.90 ) g and (4.26 ± 1.02 ) % ( t =3.74, 3.74, 2.96, P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.005 ). Conclusion Long-term peroral intake of compound codeine phosphate solution may damage the function of cerebral striatum, which is someway similar to though less severe than, the impairment caused by heroin.