Publication Abstract Display
Type: Published Abstract
Title: Reduced N-acetylaspartate related to Hepatitis C virus infection in abstinent methamphetamine users.
Authors: Taylor MJ, Letendre SL, Schweinsburg BC, Alhassoon OM, Grant I, and the HNRC Group
Year: 2003
Publication: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
Volume: 9 Issue: Pages: 246
Abstract:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and methamphetamine dependence commonly occur together and have individually been associated with neurochemical changes in the brain assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). This study was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that reductions in N-acetylaspartate (NAA: a marker of neuronal integrity) would be evidenced in individuals with both HCV and methamphetamine dependence, compared to methamphetamine abusers without HCV, and controls. Six abstinent methamphetamine abusers with HCV infection, ten abstinent methamphetamine abusers without HCV infection, and 10 controls were compared on results from proton MRS in frontal white matter, frontal gray matter, and the caudate nucleus. Groups were equated on mean age (40.7 years) and education (12.8 years). Results: In the frontal white matter, HCV infected methamphetamine abusers had significantly reduced NAA compared to HCV uninfected methamphetamine abusers and controls [F(2,23) = 3.52, p < .05]. In frontal gray matter NAA was significantly reduced in both groups of methamphetamine abusers, and HCV status was not a significant predictor [F(2,23) = 3.86, p < .05]. No significant differences were found in the caudate nucleus region. Our findings on the effects of methamphetamine abuse on cortical NAA replicate those noted earlier by Taylor et al. The novel finding in the present study is the possibility that HCV infection independently is associated with reduced NAA concentration in white matter, possibly indicating axonal injury in HCV infected persons who are also methamphetamine abusers. Because our study did not contain an HCV infected group who were not substance abusers, it is unclear if the HCV effect we observed requires prior experience with stimulant drugs.

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