Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2007 May-Jun;9(3):151-7.
doi: 10.1007/s11307-007-0082-7.

Quantitative positron emission tomography studies of the serotonin transporter in humans previously treated with the appetite suppressants fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine

Una D McCann  1 , Zsolt Szabo, Melin Vranesic, Esen Seckin, Gary Wand, Anna Duval, Robert F Dannals, George A Ricaurte
Affiliations

Quantitative positron emission tomography studies of the serotonin transporter in humans previously treated with the appetite suppressants fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine

Una D McCann et al. Mol Imaging Biol. 2007 May-Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: The appetite suppressants fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were widely prescribed before being withdrawn from the market in 1997. Both drugs are known to have the potential to damage brain serotonin (5-HT) axons and axon terminals in animals, including nonhuman primates. This study used quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) with [(11)C] McN5652, a serotonin transporter (SERT) ligand to determine whether humans previously exposed to fenfluramines showed reductions in SERT binding parameters.

Procedures: Subjects previously treated with fenfluramines for weight loss (N = 15) and age-matched controls (N = 17) underwent PET studies with [(11)C] McN5652. Global and regional distribution volumes (DVs) of [(11)C] McN5652 were compared in the two subject groups using parametric statistical analyses.

Results: Compared to controls, subjects previously exposed to fenfluramines had significant reductions in [(11)C]McN5652 binding in 14 of 15 regions of interest, more than four years after drug discontinuation.

Conclusions: These results are the first to provide direct evidence for fenfluramine-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity in humans.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Brain Res. 1990 Mar 12;511(1):165-8 - PubMed
    1. Synapse. 1998 Jun;29(2):183-92 - PubMed
    1. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1989 Jun;249(3):928-43 - PubMed
    1. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1975 Jan;192(1):33-41 - PubMed
    1. Br Med J. 1971 Jul 31;3(5769):305 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources