Higher levels of CSF homovanillic acid in recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined an index of dopaminergic neurotransmission in recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients.


METHODS
CSF concentrations of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined in 30 recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients and 69 healthy comparison subjects.


RESULTS
The cocaine-dependent patients had a significantly higher mean concentration of CSF HVA than did the healthy comparison group.


CONCLUSIONS
Recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients may show dysregulation of the central dopaminergic system.
Roy
Alec
A
Psychiatric Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, 07018, USA.
Berman
Jeffrey
J
Williams
Redford
R
Kuhn
Cynthia
C
Gonzalez
Bienvenido
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid