title: [Serum lipid levels in a group of cocaine dependent subjects in recent abstinence].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic cocaine users develop multiple potentially lethal ischemic vascular complications associated with accelerated atherosclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess biochemical and lipid profiles among cocaine dependent subjects in recent abstinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A blood sample to measure blood count, biochemical and lipid profiles was obtained from 78 patients aged 19 to 53 years (78% males) who complied with DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependency. Laboratory results were compared with a group of normal subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cases had positive urinary cocaine, with a mean consumption lapse of 7.6 years. The frequency of smoking was higher in cases. Dependent males had higher body mass index than controls. Compared to controls, dependent females had significantly higher triglyceride (TG) levels and lower HDL cholesterol. Therefore the relation total/HDL cholesterol was higher (p = 0.0365). Dependent males had higher TG levels than their normal counterparts. Dependent subjects consuming cocaine base-paste had higher TG levels. Total proteins, albumin, urea and blood urea nitrogen were lower in dependent subjects. Among males, serum creatinine was lower and blood urea was positively correlated with the daily amount of cocaine use (p = 0.03). After a month of strict abstinence, lipid profile was repeated in 27 patients and remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic cocaine use was associated with higher TG in both genders and lower HDL cholesterol in women when compared with a group of healthy counterparts.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Massardo
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Araya
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Véliz
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaimovich
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pallavicini
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandía
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D003042:Cocaine