Classification of alcoholics on the basis of plasma beta-endorphin concentration.
Recent findings suggest that a genetic deficit in opioid may be a biological marker of alcoholism. In other words, decreased plasma concentrations of opioids may be a predisposing factor, rather than a consequence, of alcohol consumption. We attempted to classify 88 randomly chosen individuals as alcoholics or nonalcoholics on the basis of plasma concentration of beta-endorphins. This criterion had a sensitivity of 73.30% and a specificity of 79.45%. Its positive predictive value was 42.30%, and its negative predictive value was 93.55%.
Aguirre
J C
JC
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain.
del Arbol
J L
JL
Rico
J
J
Raya
J
J
Miranda
M T
MT
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D001615:beta-Endorphin