Single photon emission computerized tomography of spongiform leukoencephalopathy heroin addicts: analysis of 10 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes in cerebral circulation in heroin addicts with pongiform leukoencephalopathy.


METHODS
Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) was performed in 10 such patients.


RESULTS
Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the involved white matter of bilateral cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres was obviously reduced. rCBF of temporal lobes, parietal lobes, cerebellar hemispheres and basal ganglion were reduced in varying degrees.


CONCLUSIONS
As demonstrated by the result of SPECT, rCBF in the white matter of bilateral cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres was reduced with partial involvement of the gray matter of heroin addicts with spongiform leukoencephalopathy.
Wang
Qun
Q
Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Lu
Bing-Xun
BX
D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*