title: [Use of urinary beta-hexosaminidase for diagnosing alcoholism in persons with opiate dependency in a methadone substitution program].
abstract: Usefulness of urinary beta-hexosaminidase determinations in patients on methadone substitution to pinpoint cases of alcohol abuse was studied. It was found that methadone, illegal drugs and HIV seropositivity had no effect upon the activity of this enzyme. The enzyme activity was significantly higher in patients who admitted to occasional heavy drinking than in those who declared abstinence (p = 0.014), and in healthy controls (p = 5*10(-8)), but still lower than in alcohol dependent persons undergoing detoxification (p = 0.024). In the group of opiate dependent persons in methadone substitution program the sensitivity of the test was 87% and the specificity--80%.
authors.affiliation: Zakładu Biochemii IPiN w Warszawie.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taracha
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Habrat
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chmielewska
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szukalski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases; D008691:Methadone