Specific neurotoxicity of chronic use of ecstasy.
The use of the illicit drug ecstasy (mainly containing methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) is widespread among young people in western Nations. Animal experiments indicate that MDMA is a potent neurotoxin specifically affecting the serotonergic system. A few functional neuroimaging studies revealed central nervous alterations after the repeated use of ecstasy. We examined 94 ecstasy users in comparison to 27 control subjects by means of positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG). The FDG uptake rates were globally reduced in ecstasy users, most pronounced in the striatum. The uptake rates tended to be negatively correlated with the cumulative ecstasy doses. The results indicate that younger ecstasy users may be more vulnerable with regard to neurotoxicity.
Obrocki
J
J
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. obrocki@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Schmoldt
A
A
Buchert
R
R
Andresen
B
B
Petersen
K
K
Thomasius
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D006213:Hallucinogens; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine