Assessment of cerebral temperature balance in methamphetamine poisoning

Abstract

Background. Methamphetamine negatively affects microglia, reducing the reuptake of dopamine, which leads to neurotoxicity and an increase in brain temperature. In order to monitor the dynamics of the cerebral temperature, radiothermographs that register the thermal radiation of the deep tissues of the head (MR thermometry) can be used. The purpose of the research: to study the temperature balance of the brain in acute methamphetamine poisoning.Materials and methods. All groups consisted of dextral (right-handed) males. The control group (group I) included 30 volunteers who did not use psychoactive substances (aged 27 [23–36] years). Group II comprised volunteers (n = 15) with acute methamphetamine poisoning (aged 32 [24–40] years), who had their cerebral temperature measured in dynamics until their condition stabilized. In group II patients, MR thermometry was performed during the first 2 hours from the moment of poisoning and on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th day after admission to the hospital. Results. In the addicted participants without intoxication, the MR temperature of the left hemisphere is statistically significantly higher by 0.4°C [95 % CI 0.3–0.6 (p <0.001)], and of the right hemisphere — by 0.3°C [95 % CI 0.3–0.4 (p <0.001)] compared with that of the participants without addiction. When comparing the coefficient of variation of cerebral temperature in general in group II at rest, there is a statistically significant increase of 1.52 % (95 % CI 0.99–1.62, p = 0.006), followed by a return to almost normal after methamphetamine use [1.36 % (1.36–2.22) (p = 0.508)]. During intoxication, the hemispheres warm up by 0.7 °C [95 % CI 0.7; 0.7 (p < 0.001)]. Meanwhile, the temperature variation coefficient in group II does not show a statistically significant difference from the temperature variation coefficient of healthy individuals. Conclusion. Our results are confirmed by the data obtained by psychiatrists and neurophysiologists investigating the effect of methamphetamine on the brain both organically and functionally. The obtained data make it possible to use MR thermometry as a method of rapid and additional diagnosis of brain conditions manifested by psychomotor changes associated with the use of methamphetamine.