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Effects of acute detoxification of the herbal blend ‘Spice Gold’ on dopamine D2/3 receptor availability: A [18F]fallypride PET study

2013; Elsevier BV; Volume: 23; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.euroneuro.2013.01.009

1873-7862

Axel Rominger, Paul Cumming, Guoming Xiong, Gabriele Koller, Stefan Förster, Andreas Zwergal, Evangelos Karamatskos, Peter Bartenstein, Christian la Fougère, Oliver Pogarell,

Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

We carried out dynamic [18F]fallypride PET scans to measure cerebral dopamine D2/3 receptor availability in a 23-year old patient experiencing a severe withdrawal syndrome upon voluntary abstinence from “Spice”, a pre-packaged herbal smoking thought to contain synthetic cannabinoids. Upon admission to the clinic, the patient experienced craving, affective symptoms and a range of somatic complaints, which resolved after several days' monitored abstinence. PET scans were performed on the day of admission, and one week later. Estimates of [18F]fallypride binding potential (BPND) were obtained in striatal and extrastriatal brain regions, and compared to results of age-matched healthy control subjects. Upon admission, [18F]fallypride BPND was reduced by 20% in the patient's striatum and also in extra-striatal regions. During short-term follow-up upon detoxification, the BPND increased to normal values. This study shows substantial short-term alterations of dopamine D2/3 receptor availability in a patient before and after acute detoxification from “Spice Gold”, thus providing first evidence of reversible effects on dopamine receptors of heavy use of a herbal smoking blend.