title: Residual Effects of THC via Novel Measures of Brain Perfusion and Metabolism in a Large Group of Chronic Cannabis Users.
abstract: Given the known vascular effects of cannabis, this study examined the neurophysiological factors that may affect studies of brain activity in cannabis users. We conducted a systematic evaluation in 72 h abstinent, chronic cannabis users (N=74) and nonusing controls (N=101) to determine the association between prolonged cannabis use and the following neurophysiological indicators: (1) global and regional resting cerebral blood flow (CBF), (2) oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and (3) cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2). We found that cannabis users had greater global OEF and CMRO2compared with nonusers. Regionally, we found higher CBF in the right pallidum/putamen of the cannabis users compared with nonusers. Global resting CBF and regional CBF of right superior frontal cortex correlated positively with creatinine-normalized Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels. These findings demonstrate residual effects of cannabis use whereby global and regional brain metabolism are altered in those with prolonged cannabis exposure. These neurophysiological alterations should be considered in both research and clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Center for BrainHealth, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Francesca M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Filbey
authors.affiliation: Center for BrainHealth, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.|Advance MRI LLC, Frisco, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Hanzhang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.|Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shin-Lei
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002188:Cannabis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013759:Dronabinol