Decreased cerebral blood flow of the right anterior cingulate cortex in long-term and short-term abstinent methamphetamine users

Background: The aim of the current study was to explore changes of relative regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in short-term and long-term abstinent methamphetamine (MA) users. Methods: Relative rCBF in 40 abstinent MA users and 23 healthy comparison subjects was compared by the technetium-99m-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (Tc-99m-HMPAO) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Relative rCBF in areas that were found to differ significantly was also compared in groups of MA users with short-term (< 6 months) and long-term ( >= 6 months) abstinence. Results: MA users showed decreased relative rCBF in the right anterior cingulate cortex (Brodmann area 32) relative to healthy comparison subjects. Long-term abstinent MA users had significantly greater rCBF than short-term abstinent MA users. Conclusions: We report that abstinent MA users have decreased rCBF in the anterior cingulate cortex with smaller relative decreases in subjects with prolonged abstinence. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.