title: Evaluation of prooxidant-antioxidant balance in chronic heroin users in a single assay: an identification criterion for antioxidant supplementation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opiate abuse has been linked to oxidative stress, through the separate evaluation of oxidants and antioxidants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in chronic heroin users in a single assay, easily applied in a clinical setting. Specifically, to examine whether PAB values correlate with the duration of abuse or with the presence of anti-HCV antibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four chronic heroin users - 34 cases and 30 controls - participated in this study. PAB was determined by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, developed by members of the study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In heroin users, oxidative balance was disrupted in favor of prooxidants. There was no correlation of PAB values with the duration of abuse or with the presence of anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic heroin users can benefit from an antioxidant therapy, and the method currently presented can be used as an identification criterion.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. kovatsi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Leda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovatsi
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Njau
authors.forename: Kakia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Topouridou
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Papamitsou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koliakos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006115:Greece; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D003932:Heroin / Q000652:urine; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016877:Oxidants / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000975:Antioxidants; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D016877:Oxidants; D003932:Heroin