Aims and methods: In the present study platelet monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity was investigated in 76 male type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects with and without a family history of alcoholism.
Results: Platelet MAO-B activity did not differ between family history positive (FHP) and family history negative alcohol-dependent subjects. The smoking status of the subjects was registered and there was still no difference between the groups when possible effects of smoking were taken into account. It should, however, be noted that platelet MAO-B activity was lower in alcohol-dependent subjects with three or four alcohol-dependent first-degree relatives.
Conclusions: Although this latter finding should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of subjects, it cannot be excluded that FHP alcohol-dependent subjects with a large number of alcohol-dependent first-degree relatives may have lower platelet MAO-B activity.