title: TRH test in alcoholics: relationship of the endocrine results with neuroradiological and neuropsychological findings.
abstract: Neuroradiological, neuropsychological and neuroendocrine parameters were evaluated in 20 non-depressed alcoholic men after 4 weeks (N = 11) or after at least 1 year (N = 9) of abstinence from alcohol and in normal men (N = 9). With regard to normal controls, 4-week abstinent alcoholics showed larger lateral and third ventricles, without modification in the number of cerebral sulci, and altered scores of tests evaluating subcortical and frontal function. Furthermore, in these patients the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and PRL (prolactin) responses to thyrotropin releasing hormone were higher than in controls, suggesting a reduced hypothalamic control of TSH and PRL secretion. Taken together, these findings suggest the presence of a frontal-subcortical disorder in alcoholics. Patients who had been abstinent from alcohol for at least 1 year were not distinguishable from controls for neuroradiological, neuropsychological and neuroendocrine findings, suggesting that the alcohol-related brain alterations are reversible after a long period of abstinence.
authors: Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Parma, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Marchesi
authors: C
authors: C
authors: De Risio
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Campanini
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Maggini
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Piazza
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Grassi
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Chiodera
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Coiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin