Objective: The authors examined an index of dopaminergic neurotransmission in recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients.
Method: CSF concentrations of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined in 30 recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients and 69 healthy comparison subjects.
Results: The cocaine-dependent patients had a significantly higher mean concentration of CSF HVA than did the healthy comparison group.
Conclusions: Recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients may show dysregulation of the central dopaminergic system.