Methamphetamine use can trigger faulty immune responses that can lead to cardiovascular diseases like inflammation of blood vessels, Medical News Today reported June 29.

"Our previous studies showed that methamphetamine can glycate or add sugars to proteins," said researcher Kim Janda of the Scripps Research Institute. "In this study, we found that the immune system responds dramatically to this methamphetamine-induced glycation, which may lead to vascular inflammation and deterioration if left untreated. These problems are the direct result of long-term methamphetamine abuse."

The study found a direct relationship between meth use and the level of circulating antibodies in users' systems. The immune response also may make some of the meth biologically available by binding to the drug, leading to the need for ever-higher doses.

The study appears in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.