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.
Fulton
M K
MK
Chemical Addiction Program, VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Kramer
G
G
Moeller
F G
FG
Chae
Y
Y
Isbell
P G
PG
Petty
F
F
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