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Cerebral atrophy in habitual cocaine abusers

A planimetric CT study

Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota (Drs. Pascual-Leone and Dhuna) and Hennepin County Medical Center (Dr. Anderson), Minneapolis, MN.

We compared cranial CTs of 35 habitual cocaine abusers, 16 self-reported 1st-time users, and 54 headache patients using linear planimetric measures. All patients met the following criteria: age 20 to 40 years, no polydrug abuse (including alcohol), HIV seronegativity, normal albumin level, and no history of any other neurologic disease. The sex ratios and ages were not significantly different in the 3 groups. The planimetric measurements and calculated indices of cerebral atrophy were significantly different in the habitual cocaine abusers compared with the 2 other groups of patients. There were no differences between 1st-time cocaine users and controls. Among the habitual cocaine abusers there was a positive correlation between the approximate duration of cocaine abuse and the calculated atrophy indices. The findings suggest that cerebral atrophy develops in chronic cocaine abusers, and the severity correlates with the duration of abuse.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, c/o David C. Anderson, MD, Department of Neurology, Hennepin County Medical Center, 701 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55405.

Supported by a Merrit-Putman Fellowship Grant, American Epilepsy Foundation (Dr. Dhuna).

Presented in part at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Miami Beach, FL, May 1990.

Received April 15, 1990. Accepted for publication in final form July 2, 1990.

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