Calcitonin and prolactin serum levels in heroin addicts: study on a methadone treated group

Serum calcitonin (CT) and prolactin (PRL) levels were determined in 21 heroin addicts in hospital treatment with methadone. After withdrawal of heroin the values of CT 112.4 +/- 62.9 pg/ml, and PRL 19.1 +/- 10.1 ng/ml were both significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than in normal controls (62.2 +/- 43.8 pg/ml and 9.1 +/- 3.5 ng/ml, respectively). After withdrawal of methadone, i.e. 12 +/- 3.7 days after heroin withdrawal, CT values were 76.6 +/- 32.7 ng/ml (a significant level of P less than 0.02 towards initial values). No correlation was noted between CT and PRL values.