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Reduced N-Acetylaspartate Levels in the Frontal Cortex of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy) Users: Preliminary Results

Liesbeth Renemana,b, Charles B. L. M. Majoieb, Herman Flickb and Gerard J. den Heetenb

a Graduate School of Neurosciences, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
b Graduate School of Neurosciences, Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands



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  		FIG 1. Proton density-weighted MR image (4000/22) shows the three voxel locations for the localized 1H MRS studies: midfrontal gray matter (left), mid-occipital gray matter (middle), and right parietal white matter (right).



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  		FIG 2. Proton MRS spectra from the midfrontal gray matter region in a control subject (age, 23 years) and an MDMA user (cumulative lifetime exposure, 200 tablets; age, 26 years). The spectrum in the MDMA user is representative for the whole group and shows a reduction in NAA levels, with Cr levels similar to those in the control subject. Note that MI levels are elevated in this specific MDMA user, although for the group as a whole, mean MI measures in MDMA users did not statistically differ from those of control subjects.



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  		FIG 3. Plot shows the correlation between the NAA/Cr ratio in the frontal cortex and the extent of previous MDMA use.





Copyright © 2008 by the American Society of Neuroradiology. Print ISSN: 0195-6108 Online ISSN: 1936-959X