Cerebral1H MRS alterations in recreational 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ?ecstasy?) users
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging October 1, 1999 L. Chang, Thomas Ernst, Charles S. Grob et al. 109 citations
Recreational use of MDMA does not cause significant neuronal injury, as indicated by normal levels of N-acetyl compounds in the brain. However, in the parietal white matter, the concentration of myo-inositol was 16.3% higher and the ratio of myo-inositol to creatine was 14.1% higher in MDMA users compared to non-users. These increases, which were related to the cumulative lifetime dose of MDMA, suggest that even recreational doses may lead to increased glial content in the brain. The study involved 22 MDMA users and 37 normal subjects, using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy to assess neurochemical abnormalities.