Platelet monoamine oxidase activity in alcoholics with and without a family history of alcoholism

A number of studies point at platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity bein g reduced in alcoholics with a family history of drinking, this being a pos sible vulnerability marker for alcoholism. To test this hypothesis, we exam ined a group of recently detoxified alcoholics with high (n = 25) and low g enetic loading for alcoholism (n = 28) and a group of healthy controls (n = 21). Clinical assessments were made using the SCID II interview for psychi atric disorders, the Family History Assessment Module and the Semi-Structur al Assessment of Genetics in Alcoholism, a questionnaire especially designe d for genetic studies. Platelet MAO activity with and without ethanol stimu lation and the percentage of MAO activity with ethanol did not differ betwe en groups. The only significant difference was a lower inhibition of MAO ac tivity with ethanol in alcoholics both with and without a family history co mpared to controls. In patients with antisocial personality traits, platele t MAO activity was also not found to be different from other alcoholics. Ou r findings question the hypothesis of reduced platelet MAO activity to be a possible vulnerability marker for alcoholism. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel.