BLUNTED GROWTH-HORMONE RESPONSE IS ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY RELAPSE IN ALCOHOL-DEPENDENT PATIENTS

Growth hormone (GH) secretion, stimulated by the dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptor agonist apomorphine, was assessed in 55 alcohol-dependent pat ients before detoxification (on the day of admittance to hospital) and after 7 days of treatment on the ward (day 8). Patients who relapsed early (i.e., within 3 months after detoxification) showed significantl y blunted GH secretion before detoxification, compared with both healt hy controls and patients who abstained for 6 months. Among early relap sing patients, GH secretion was blunted whether or not patients were a cutely intoxicated on the day of admittance to hospital. However, for patients who abstained during observation, a blunting effect of acute ethanol consumption on GH secretion was demonstrated. On day 8, a tren d toward blunted GH secretion was found in early relapsing patients on ly when GH response over infusion time was assessed. Therefore, GH blu nting, and no other variable indicating the clinical course of the dis ease, was associated with early relapse in alcohol-dependent patients. These findings are evidence of reduced dopamine receptor function in a subgroup of early relapsing alcohol-dependent patients during chroni c intoxication.