Cerebral1H MRS alterations in recreational 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ?ecstasy?) users
L. Chang, Thomas Ernst, Charles S. Grob, Russell E. Poland
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging October 1, 1999 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1522-2586(199910)10:4<521::aid-jmri4>3.0.co;2-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 59 |
| Population | Recreational MDMA users and normal subjects |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Keywords | Neurochemical Creatine White matter Magnetic resonance imaging Recreational drug Anesthesia |
| Citations | 109 |
| Key findings | Recreational MDMA use is associated with increased myo-inositol concentration in parietal white matter, suggesting increased glial content, without evidence of neuronal injury. |
Abstract
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an illicit drug that has been associated with serotonergic axonal degeneration in animals. This study evaluates neurochemical abnormalities in recreational MDMA users. Twenty-two MDMA users and 37 normal subjects were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) in the mid-frontal, mid-occipital, and parietal brain regions. (1)H MRS showed normal N-acetyl (NA) compounds in all brain regions. The myo-inositol (MI) concentration (+16.3%, P = 0.04) and the MI to creatine (CR) ratio (+14.1%, P = 0. 01) were increased in the parietal white matter of MDMA users. The cumulative lifetime MDMA dose showed significant effects on [MI] in the parietal white matter and the occipital cortex. The normal NA concentration suggests a lack of significant neuronal injury in recreational MDMA users. However, the usage-related increase in MI suggests that exposure to MDMA, even at recreational doses, may cause increased glial content. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;10:521-526.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug Recreational Ecstasy users recruited via snowball peer network | 1992 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 100 |
| Reducedin vivobinding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) users Male regular ecstasy users and well-matched controls | 1999 | Cross-sectional association study | n = 20 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland Drug users at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, aged 16-47, 80% between 18 and... | 2001 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 122 |
| Acute, sub‐acute and long‐term subjective consequences of ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) consumption in 430 regular users Regular MDMA users | 2003 | Cross-sectional study | n = 466 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 38
- Neurotoxicity of methylenedioxyamphetamines (MDMA; ecstasy) in humans: how strong is the evidence for persistent brain damage? Addiction February 27, 2006
- MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or Ecstasy: The Neuropsychobiological Implications of Taking It at Dances and Raves Neuropsychobiology 2004
- Neurotoxicity of drugs of abuse - the case of methylenedioxy amphetamines (MDMA, ecstasy ), and amphetamines Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience September 30, 2009
- Long-Term Neuropsychiatric Consequences of "Ecstasy" (MDMA): A Review Harvard Review of Psychiatry 2002
- Neuroimaging findings with MDMA/ecstasy: technical aspects, conceptual issues and future prospects Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2006
and 33 more in the library
Cites 15
- 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy'. A report of five deaths associated with the use of MDEA and MDMA JAMA March 27, 1987
- 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy' JAMA March 27, 1987
- Diversity of Psychopathology Associated with use of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (‘Ecstasy’) The British Journal of Psychiatry September 1, 1994
- Blockade of Striatal 5‐Hydroxytryptmine2Receptors Reduces the Increase in Extracellullar Concentrations of Dopamine Produced by the Amphhetamine analogue 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Journal of Neurochemistry April 1, 1994
- Persistent Effects of (±)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) on Human Sleep Sleep September 1, 1993
and 10 more in the library