Cerebral [<sup>18</sup>F]-FDOPA Uptake in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Association with Autistic Traits
Rik Schalbroeck,
Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei,
Jean-Paul Selten,
Maqsood Yaqub,
Anouk Schrantee,
Therese van Amelsvoort,
Jan Booij,
Floris H. P. van Velden
Affiliations
Rik Schalbroeck
School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei
Section of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
Jean-Paul Selten
School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Maqsood Yaqub
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Anouk Schrantee
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Therese van Amelsvoort
School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Jan Booij
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Floris H. P. van Velden
Section of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
Dopaminergic signaling is believed to be related to autistic traits. We conducted an exploratory 3,4-dihydroxy-6-[18F]-fluoro-L-phenylalanine positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]-FDOPA PET/CT) study, to examine cerebral [18F]-FDOPA influx constant (kicer min−1), reflecting predominantly striatal dopamine synthesis capacity and a mixed monoaminergic innervation in extrastriatal neurons, in 44 adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 22 controls, aged 18 to 30 years. Autistic traits were assessed with the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Region-of-interest and voxel-based analyses showed no statistically significant differences in kicer between autistic adults and controls. In autistic adults, striatal kicer was significantly, negatively associated with AQ attention to detail subscale scores, although Bayesian analyses did not support this finding. In conclusion, among autistic adults, specific autistic traits can be associated with reduced striatal dopamine synthesis capacity. However, replication of this finding is necessary.
