Correlation between duration of treatment and cortisol plasma level in methadone maintained patients
Journal
Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems
Date Issued
2016-12
Author(s)
Abstract
Background. The various endocrine abnormalities reported in heroin addicts and patients in methadone maintenance
treatment include: increased thyroxin, triiodothyronine and prolactin levels, and abnormalities in sexual hormone, ACTH
and cortisol secretion. The pathophysiological mechanism that has been postulated does explain these findings, including
the direct action of heroin or methadone along the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Aim. The aim of this study is to
determine the correlation between duration of methadone treatment and cortisol plasma levels in patients treated with
methadone maintenance therapy. Methods. The study was carried out at the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Drug
Abuse and Addiction, a part of the Skopje Psychiatric Hospital. The hormonal analysis was carried out at the Department
of Clinical Biochemistry, Skopje University Hospital. It is an analytical, cross-sectional study that included 50 male patients in methadone maintenance treatment, divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 34 male patients who
had been maintained on methadone treatment for over 2 years. The second group consisted of 16 male patients who had
been maintained on methadone treatment for 2 years or less. To discover demographic characteristics we used medical
records, and to determine cortisol plasma level we relied on the Chemiluminescence Immunoassay method. The results
were analysed statistically by using a t-test for independents samples, χ² test, and Pearson coefficient of linear correlation.
Results. The results show that patients treated with methadone for 2 years or less have significantly higher plasma cortisol
levels than patients treated with methadone for over 2 years. Conclusions. Longer duration of methadone maintenance
treatment tends to normalize the cortisol plasma level.
treatment include: increased thyroxin, triiodothyronine and prolactin levels, and abnormalities in sexual hormone, ACTH
and cortisol secretion. The pathophysiological mechanism that has been postulated does explain these findings, including
the direct action of heroin or methadone along the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Aim. The aim of this study is to
determine the correlation between duration of methadone treatment and cortisol plasma levels in patients treated with
methadone maintenance therapy. Methods. The study was carried out at the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Drug
Abuse and Addiction, a part of the Skopje Psychiatric Hospital. The hormonal analysis was carried out at the Department
of Clinical Biochemistry, Skopje University Hospital. It is an analytical, cross-sectional study that included 50 male patients in methadone maintenance treatment, divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 34 male patients who
had been maintained on methadone treatment for over 2 years. The second group consisted of 16 male patients who had
been maintained on methadone treatment for 2 years or less. To discover demographic characteristics we used medical
records, and to determine cortisol plasma level we relied on the Chemiluminescence Immunoassay method. The results
were analysed statistically by using a t-test for independents samples, χ² test, and Pearson coefficient of linear correlation.
Results. The results show that patients treated with methadone for 2 years or less have significantly higher plasma cortisol
levels than patients treated with methadone for over 2 years. Conclusions. Longer duration of methadone maintenance
treatment tends to normalize the cortisol plasma level.
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