[Relationship between heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy and respiratory chain complex I deficiency].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy and respiratory chain complex I deficiency.


METHODS
The activity of respiratory chain complex I in peripheral white blood cell mitochondria was compared between 36 cases of heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy and 36 healthy subjects using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The activity of respiratory chain complex I was 5.6∓2.4 U/ml in patients with heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy, significantly higher than that in the normal subjects (4.2∓2.1 U/ml, t=2.634, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy, mitochondrial dysfunction results in energy metabolism disorder to cause extensive demyelination of the cerebral white matter. Respiratory chain complex I deficiency of the mitochondria plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy.
Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.E-mail: zhouliang_1963@126.com.
Liang
L
Zhou
Minshi
M
Lin
Jia
J
Yin
D000328:Adult; D017825:Canavan Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004579:Electron Transport; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult