Ecstasy--long-term effects on the human central nervous system revealed by positron emission tomography.
BACKGROUND
The main psychotropic agent of the popular illicit drug ecstasy is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). In the light of animal studies and examinations of human cerebrospinal fluid, MDMA is suspected of causing neurotoxic lesions to the serotonergic system.


OBJECTIVE
To postulate a relationship between ecstasy use and lasting alterations to the cerebral glucose metabolic rate.


METHODS
Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) was performed on seven ecstasy users and seven subjects without any known history of illicit drug use. Data were compared for a limited number of brain regions.


RESULTS
By comparison with the control group, the glucose metabolic uptake of the ecstasy user group was altered within the amygdala, hippocampus and Brodmann's area II.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest the possibility that ecstasy use has lasting effects on central neuronal activity in humans.
Obrocki
J
J
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Hamburg, Germany.
Buchert
R
R
Väterlein
O
O
Thomasius
R
R
Beyer
W
W
Schiemann
T
T
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods
D006213:Hallucinogens; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine