title: Hyperprolactinemia and macrocytosis in women with alcohol and polysubstance dependence.
abstract: Chronic alcoholism and drug abuse are often associated in women with derangements of reproductive function such as amenorrhea, anovulation, luteal phase dysfunction and early menopause. Endocrine profiles were studied of the first 18 women (aged 17-58) admitted consecutively to a Massachusetts hospital for treatment of alcohol/polysubstance dependence under civil commitment. Twelve women were diagnosed as alcohol dependent according to criteria established in DSM-III-R. Their daily alcohol consumption ranged from 42-324 grams. Six women were diagnosed as polysubstance dependent. In addition to alcohol (84-831 g/day), cocaine was the most frequently abused drug followed by tranquilizers, marijuana and opiates. Over 60% of alcohol-dependent women of reproductive age had either hyperprolactinemia or macrocytosis (increased mean corpuscular volume, MCV), or both. Over 60% of the polysubstance-dependent women of reproductive age had either hyperprolactinemia or increased MCV. Over 80% of alcohol-dependent women of postmenopausal age had either hyperprolactinemia or increased MCV, or both. We conclude that evaluation of plasma prolactin levels and MCV may be useful as biological state markers for alcoholism and polysubstance abuse in women.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, McLean Hospital-Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts 02178.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Lex
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Mendelson
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cochin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D000431:Ethanol; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone