title: Increased white matter hyperintensities in male methamphetamine abusers.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, South Korea.
authors: Soojeong C
authors: SC
authors: Bae
authors: In Kyoon
authors: IK
authors: Lyoo
authors: Young Hoon
authors: YH
authors: Sung
authors: Jaeun
authors: J
authors: Yoo
authors: Ain
authors: A
authors: Chung
authors: Su-Jung
authors: SJ
authors: Yoon
authors: Dai-Jin
authors: DJ
authors: Kim
authors: Jaeuk
authors: J
authors: Hwang
authors: Seog Ju
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Perry F
authors: PF
authors: Renshaw
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine