BIOLOGIC TEST FOR ALCOHOLISM

摘要

Alcoholism and alcoholism susceptibility in a patient are determined by measuring a cellular indicator which is characteristic of intracellular cAMP concentration. In particular, intracellular cAMP concentration may be measured in freshly isolated lymphocytes, where a reduction in the concentration compared to the expected normal value is diagnostic of alcoholism. Alternatively, stimulated intracellular cAMP concentration may be measured in cultured cells not exposed to ethanol where an increase in the concentration compared to the expected normal value is indicative of a predisposition toward alcoholism. Also, decreased cAMP levels may be measured in cultured cells from alcoholics exposed to chronic ethanol where no decrease in the concentration of cAMP occurs when normal cultured cells are exposed to chronic ethanol.