Basic aspects of blood platelet monoamine oxidase activity in hospitalized men alcoholics.

Platelet MAO activity (tryptamine as substrate) was assessed in 44 hospitalized men alcoholics to examine the relationships between MAO levels and variables related to alcohol misuse and physiological status. Mean MAO levels were lower in this population than in normal controls and hospitalized psychiatric patients. MAO activity correlated with age but was independent of variables derived from self-reported drinking histories and scales of alcohol dependence. Similarly, platelet MAO activity was not related to the misuse of other drugs. Of the variance in MAO activity, 38% could be accounted for by age, and the values of Mg++, low density lipoproteins and eosinophil combined. The significance of low platelet MAO activity in alcoholics is discussed.