Effect of methamphetamine abuse on the bone quality of the calcaneus.
BACKGROUND
Methamphetamine, a derivative of amphetamine, has been said to cause mainly mental dependency in humans, but only little is known about its physical dependency. Like other narcotics, it may have chronic effects on the human body, so, this study was planned to evaluate it by examining the bone quality of the skeletal system.


METHODS
Among the convicts serving in Fuchu Prison, two groups of people were chosen according to their methamphetamine experience. The bone quality of the calcaneus of both abusers (n = 59, ages 41 +/- 11 years) and controls (n = 50, aged 45 +/- 13 years) was examined with an Achilles ultrasound bone densitometer. SOS (speed of sound) and BUA (broadband ultrasound attenuation), both of which were obtained from the measurement and are an indicator of the strength of bone, were compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
The SOS of the abuser group was 1559 +/- 24 (mean +/- SD) m/s and this was significantly lower than that of the control group, 1570 +/- 27 (mean +/- SD) m/s (p = 0.017). The BUAs of the abuser group and the control group were 108 +/- 10 and 110 +/- 10 (mean +/- SD) dB/MHz, respectively, and there was no significant difference between them (p = 0.181).


CONCLUSIONS
There was loss of SOS of the calcaneus in methamphetamine abusers.
Katsuragawa
Y
Y
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo, Japan. katsura@air.linkclub.or.jp
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine