Influence of dopaminergic transmission on severity of withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism.
OBJECTIVE
Dysfunction of dopaminergic transmission has been suggested as influencing withdrawal syndrome in alcohol-dependent patients. Therefore, dopamine levels and sensitivity of dopamine receptors were correlated with the severity of withdrawal syndrome in 40 alcoholics.


METHODS
Dopamine blood plasma levels and apomorphine-induced Growth Hormone (GH) release were measured on the first day of detoxification (Day 1) and after 8 days of abstinence (Day 8). Severity of withdrawal syndrome was assessed daily by the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) score. In the 22 patients (out of the 40) treated by chlormethiazole, severity of withdrawal was measured by the required chlormethiazole dose.


RESULTS
A positive correlation was found between dopamine levels on Day 1 and the total CIWA score and necessary chlormethiazole dose, respectively. Correlation with the CIWA score was even stronger when the sensitivity of post-synaptic dopamine receptors was taken into account. No significant correlation between dopamine levels on Day 8 and withdrawal syndrome was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate an influence of dopaminergic transmission on withdrawal syndrome during early withdrawal.
Heinz
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Schmidt
K
K
Baum
S S
SS
Kuhn
S
S
Dufeu
P
P
Schmidt
L G
LG
Rommelspacher
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001058:Apomorphine; D002719:Chlormethiazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D002719:Chlormethiazole; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D001058:Apomorphine; D004298:Dopamine