title: Higher levels of CSF homovanillic acid in recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, 07018, USA.
authors.forename: Alec
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: Redford
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Bienvenido
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid