TITLE:
Expression of Myoglobin in the Urine of Cocaine Users
AUTHORS:
Marie M. Bourgeois, Ira S. Richards
KEYWORDS:
Cocaine; Myoglobin; Gender; Urine
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.4 No.4,
April
30,
2013
ABSTRACT: Background: The possibility exists that cocaine use in the absence
of frank clinical presentation of acute cardiac events may be associated with
subclinical injury including the release of myoglobin which is a nonspecific
marker for cardiac and skeletal muscle damage. Objectives: This investigation examined urine specimens for
potential differences between cocaine use and the
expression of myoglobin (a marker associated with cardiovascular damage,
inflammation and oxidative stress). Methods:40 urine specimens were assayed for cocaine metabolites,
creatinine, total protein (BSA) and myoglobin using ELISA and colorimetry. Results: We observed significant differences between male control
and male cocaine positive urines for myoglobin. Interestingly, there was no
statistically significant difference in females between control and cocaine
positive urines. Conclusion: Differences in the urinary
expression of myoglobin may be important in evaluating the gender based effects
of cocaine use and may have potential clinical applications which may be
related to gender differences in signs and symptoms of cocaine toxicity.