MDMA (“Ecstasy”) and Its Association with Cerebrovascular Accidents: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abuse of the popular recreational drug “Ecstasy” (MDMA) has been linked to the occurrence of cerebrovascular accidents. It is known that MDMA alters brain serotonin (5-HT) concentrations and that brain postsynaptic 5-HT₂ receptors play a role in the regulation of brain microvasculature. Therefore, we used brain imaging to find out whether MDMA use predisposes one to cerebrovascular accidents by altering brain 5-HT neurotransmission.

METHODS: The effects of MDMA use on brain cortical 5-HT_2A receptor densities were studied using [¹²³I]R91150 single-photon emission CT in 10 abstinent recent MDMA users, five former MDMA users, and 10 healthy control subjects. Furthermore, to examine whether changes in brain 5-HT_2A receptor densities are associated with alterations in blood vessel volumes, we calculated relative cerebral blood volume maps from dynamic MR imaging sets in five MDMA users and six healthy control subjects.

RESULTS: An analysis of variance revealed that mean cortical [¹²³I]R91150 binding ratios were significantly lower in recent MDMA users than in former MDMA users and control subjects. This finding suggests down-regulation of 5-HT₂ receptors caused by MDMA-induced 5-HT release. Furthermore, in MDMA users, low cortical 5-HT₂ receptor densities were significantly associated with low cerebral blood vessel volumes (implicating vasoconstriction) and high cortical 5-HT₂ receptor densities with high cerebral blood vessel volumes (implicating vasodilatation) in specific brain regions.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a relationship between the serotonergic system and an altered regulation of 5-HT₂ receptors in human MDMA users. MDMA users may therefore be at risk for cerebrovascular accidents resulting from alterations in the 5-HT neurotransmission system.