| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Neuroradiology |
1 From the Graduate School of Neurosciences, Departments of Nuclear Medicine (L.R., J.B.A.H.) and Radiology (L.R., C.B.L.M.M., J.B.A.H., G.J.d.H.), Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Received September 29, 2000; revision requested November 22; revision received January 31, 2001; accepted March 9. Address correspondence to L.R. (e-mail: l.reneman@amc.uva.nl).
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) on the human brain by using diffusion and perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight abstinent ecstasy users and six ecstasy nonusers underwent diffusion and perfusion MR imaging. Apparent diffusion coefficient and relative cerebral volume maps were reconstructed. Differences in apparent diffusion coefficient values and relative cerebral volume ratios between the groups were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test. The relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient and relative cerebral volume and the extent of previous ecstasy use was investigated with Spearman rank correlation.
RESULTS: Apparent diffusion coefficient values (0.84 vs 0.65 x 10-5 cm2/sec, P < .025) and relative cerebral volume ratios (1.22 vs 1.01, P < .025) were significantly higher in the globus pallidus of ecstasy users compared with nonusers, respectively. Increases in pallidal relative cerebral volume were positively correlated with the extent of previous use of ecstasy (
= 0.73, P < .04).
CONCLUSION: Ecstasy use is associated with tissue changes in the globus pallidus. These findings are in agreement with findings in case reports, suggesting that the globus pallidus is particularly sensitive to the effects of ecstasy.
Index terms: Brain, effects of drugs on • Drugs, abuse • Magnetic resonance (MR), diffusion study, 14.12144 • Magnetic resonance (MR), perfusion study, 14.12144
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. M. L. de Win, G. Jager, J. Booij, L. Reneman, T. Schilt, C. Lavini, S. D. Olabarriaga, G. J. den Heeten, and W. van den Brink Sustained effects of ecstasy on the human brain: a prospective neuroimaging study in novel users Brain, November 1, 2008; 131(11): 2936 - 2945. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. M. L. de Win, G. Jager, J. Booij, L. Reneman, T. Schilt, C. Lavini, S. D. Olabarriaga, N. F. Ramsey, G. J. d. Heeten, and W. van den Brink Neurotoxic effects of ecstasy on the thalamus The British Journal of Psychiatry, October 1, 2008; 193(4): 289 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Arnone, F. Schifano, and B. Sessa Psychedelics in psychiatry * Author's reply: The British Journal of Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 188(1): 88 - 89. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Viberg, A. Fredriksson, and P. Eriksson Investigations of Strain and/or Gender Differences in Developmental Neurotoxic Effects of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Mice Toxicol. Sci., October 1, 2004; 81(2): 344 - 353. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Y. Bilgili and B. Unal Effect of Region of Interest on Interobserver Variance in Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Measures AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., January 1, 2004; 25(1): 108 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. A. Hurley, L. Reneman, and K. H. Taber Ecstasy in the Brain: A Model for Neuroimaging J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, May 1, 2002; 14(2): 125 - 129. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| RADIOLOGY | RADIOGRAPHICS | RSNA JOURNALS ONLINE |
