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Abnormal cerebral perfusion in chronic methamphetamine abusers: a study using 99MTc-HMPAO and SPECT
1Division of Drug Dependence and Psychotropic Drug Clinical Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Chiba, Japan.
Summary
Methamphetamine abuse causes lasting cerebral blood flow deficits, detectable even after long abstinence. Technetium-99m-HMPAO SPECT imaging is sensitive for identifying these perfusion abnormalities in drug users.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Methamphetamine abuse is a significant public health concern.
- Chronic methamphetamine use is associated with neurological damage.
- Understanding the long-term effects on cerebral blood flow is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cerebral blood flow and morphological changes in methamphetamine abusers.
- To assess the sensitivity of HMPAO SPECT in detecting perfusion deficits.
- To determine if these deficits persist after abstinence.
Main Methods:
- Utilized technetium-99m-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for cerebral blood flow assessment.
- Conducted morphological examinations using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Studied nine individuals with a history of methamphetamine abuse.
Main Results:
- Six out of nine subjects showed multiple focal perfusion deficits in cerebral cortices.
- MRI revealed no significant abnormalities such as atrophy or infarctions in these subjects.
- Perfusion deficits were observed even after extended periods of abstinence, indicating potential irreversibility.
Conclusions:
- HMPAO SPECT is a sensitive tool for detecting cerebral perfusion abnormalities in methamphetamine abusers.
- Methamphetamine abuse can lead to persistent, possibly irreversible, cerebral vascular changes.
- These findings highlight the long-term neurological impact of methamphetamine addiction.