The authors assayed platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO), plasma amine
oxidase (AO), and red cell catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) in 32 male
alcoholics before they began disulfiram treatment. Seven subjects developed
psychotic reactions to disulfiram; these 7 had significantly lower
pretreatment MAO and AO levels and significantly higher COMT than the
patients who had no adverse reactions to disulfiram, which suggests that
severe behavioral reactions to disulfiram are associated with differences
in enzyme activities.Abstract Teaser