Low plasma homovanillic acid levels in recently abstinent alcoholic men.
OBJECTIVE
To explore dopaminergic mechanisms in alcohol dependence, the authors measured plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) in recently detoxified alcohol-dependent men.


METHODS
Plasma HVA was measured in 83 male patients with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence who had maintained documented abstinence for at least 3 weeks and in 69 healthy male comparison subjects.


RESULTS
The alcoholic patients as a group had significantly lower levels of plasma HVA than the comparison subjects. This difference was not influenced by any other measured covariate, including a family history of alcohol dependence.


CONCLUSIONS
These results imply that factors such as alcohol dependence should be taken into account in future studies of plasma HVA.
Chemical Addiction Program, VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
M K
MK
Fulton
G
G
Kramer
F G
FG
Moeller
Y
Y
Chae
P G
PG
Isbell
F
F
Petty
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013695:Temperance
D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid