Background and aims: Baclofen, a selective γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptor agonist, has emerged as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder with much unexplained variation in response to treatment efficacy and dose regimen. Several positive studies include patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and/or history of heavy drinking. The aim of this paper was to examine the association of cortical GABA+ concentration with severity of liver disease (including markers of liver injury) and other clinical characteristics in alcohol patients.
Methods: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1 H-MRS), from the parietal lobe, was analyzed to yield absolute concentration of GABA in 24 alcohol-dependent individuals. Diagnosis of ALD, markers of liver injury, severity of liver disease (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD]), and alcohol history were assessed. Covariates included concurrent medication, age, and recent alcohol consumption.
Results: Multiple linear regression revealed that GABA+ concentration was significantly predicted by MELD scores (F = 5.02, R2 = 0.59, P = 0.01; MELD: B = -0.63, P = 0.02), when controlling for covariates concurrent medication, age, and recent alcohol consumption.
Conclusion: Severity of ALD is associated with lower cortical concentrations of GABA+. These results may explain variations in response to the GABAB agonist, baclofen, in the alcohol-dependent population.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01711125.
Keywords: GABA; alcohol dependence; alcohol liver disease; baclofen.
© 2018 Society for the Study of Addiction.