Sk. Teoh et al., PITUITARY VOLUME IN MEN WITH CONCURRENT HEROIN AND COCAINE DEPENDENCE, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 76(6), 1993, pp. 1529-1532
Pituitary gland volume was measured in 16 men between the ages of 26-3
3 with magnetic resonance imaging. Eight male patients had a Diagnosti
c and Statistical Manual III-Revised, American Psychiatric Association
Axis I diagnosis of concurrent opioid and cocaine dependence. The ave
rage duration of opioid and cocaine abuse was 7.8 +/- 2.0 and 6.9 +/-
1.4 yr, respectively. All patients were in good physical health as det
ermined by physical examination, blood chemistry, hemogram and hormone
analysis, and all tested negatively for the HIV antibody. No patient
had any other Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III-Revised Axis I dia
gnosis or neurological disorder. Eight healthy males served as age-mat
ched control subjects. None of the control subjects had any past or cu
rrent history of substance abuse or any clinical indication for magnet
ic resonance imaging. Opioid and cocaine dependent men had significant
ly larger pituitary gland volumes (730.0 +/- 24.4 mm3) than control su
bjects (540.0 +/- 26.6 mm3) (P < 0.01). The significant increase in pi
tuitary gland volume in men who abuse opiates and cocaine may be antec
edent to detection of abnormal anterior pituitary hormone function.