Dopaminergic responsivity in alcoholism: trait, state, or residual marker?
OBJECTIVE
In order to classify neuroendocrine abnormalities in alcohol-dependent patients as trait, state, or residual markers, growth hormone (GH) secretion was assessed longitudinally.


METHODS
GH secretion, stimulated by the dopaminergic agonist apomorphine, was evaluated in 21 alcohol-dependent patients (16 men, five women) and 10 healthy comparison subjects (eight men, two women). The patients were tested during early withdrawal, after 8 days of abstinence, and after 3 months.


RESULTS
Patients who relapsed within 3 months (N = 8) showed significantly less GH secretion in all neuroendocrine tests than did either the patients who abstained from ethanol consumption for 6 months (N = 13) or the healthy comparison subjects. The relapsers and abstainers did not differ significantly in any of their clinical or pathophysiological data, in the severity of their withdrawal symptoms, or in antecedent or concomitant illnesses associated with alcoholism.


CONCLUSIONS
GH blunting appears to be a residual marker of clinical relevance in alcoholism.
Dettling
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, Universitätsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Heinz
A
A
Dufeu
P
P
Rommelspacher
H
H
Gräf
K J
KJ
Schmidt
L G
LG
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015415:Biomarkers; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis
D015415:Biomarkers; D000431:Ethanol; D013006:Growth Hormone; D001058:Apomorphine