Increased white matter hyperintensities in male methamphetamine abusers.
BACKGROUND
The current study was conducted to compare the prevalence, severity, and location of white matter signal hyperintensities (WMH) on brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in methamphetamine (MA) abusers.


METHODS
Thirty-three MA abusers and 32 age- and gender-matched healthy comparison subjects were studied. Axial T-2 weighted images and fluid attenuated inversion recovery axial images were obtained using 3.0 T MR scanner. The severity of WMH was assessed separately for deep and periventricular WMH. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to assess the odds ratio for WMH.


RESULTS
MA abusers had greater severity of WMH than the healthy comparison subjects (odds ratio: 7.06, 8.46, and 4.56 for all, deep, and periventricular WMH, respectively). Severity of deep WMH correlated with total cumulative dose of MA (p = 0.027). Male MA abusers had greater severity of WMH than female MA abusers (odds ratio = 10.00). While male MA abusers had greater severity of WMH than male comparison subjects (odds ratio = 18.86), there was no significant difference in WMH severity between female MA abusers and female comparison subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study reports increased WMH in MA abusers, which may be related to MA-induced cerebral perfusion deficits. In addition, female MA abusers had less severe WMH than male MA abusers, possibly due to estrogen's protective effect against ischemic or neurotoxic effects of MA.
Bae
Soojeong C
SC
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, South Korea.
Lyoo
In Kyoon
IK
Sung
Young Hoon
YH
Yoo
Jaeun
J
Chung
Ain
A
Yoon
Su-Jung
SJ
Kim
Dai-Jin
DJ
Hwang
Jaeuk
J
Kim
Seog Ju
SJ
Renshaw
Perry F
PF
D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D020644:Midline Thalamic Nuclei / Q000473:pathology; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D008694:Methamphetamine