[Rate of ethanol elimination in alcoholics with special reference to variants of maximal values for legal calculation of blood alcohol concentration].
The ethanol elimination rate was measured in 15 male alcoholics who had come to the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Tübingen as in-patients. Over the course of several hours between 3 and 5 blood samples were taken in the post-absorption phase. The hourly elimination rate, calculated by lines of regression, gave a mean value of 0.224 g/kg (s = 0.038 g/kg). This was significantly higher than the elimination rate for non-alcoholics calculated from drinking experiments found in the literature (p less than 0.001). In addition 2 blood samples were taken several hours apart from each of 39 alcoholics. Based on the results of the analysis of the second blood sample, the value of the first blood sample was calculated back using the maximum value formula employed in foro. The calculated maximum values were compared to the analysis values. In 8 cases the analysis value was higher than the calculated maximum value, exceeding it by as much as 0.74 g/kg. It should be considered whether the formula currently employed to calculate the maximum BAC is sufficiently accurate in alcoholic to exclude possible false detrimental values.
Haffner
H T
HT
Institut für Gerichtliche Medizin, Universität Tübingen.
Besserer
K
K
Stetter
F
F
Mann
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged
D000431:Ethanol