title: Evaluation of the hypothalamic-hypophysial, thyroid, and gonadal axes before and after disulfiram administration in patients with chronic alcoholism.
abstract: We studied 14 alcoholic men without evidence of liver damage. After two weeks of alcohol abstinence, the patients were divided into two groups of seven patients each. Hypothalamic-hypophysial, thyroid, and gonadal axis tests were done on group 1 patients before disulfiram administration, and the tests were later repeated while the patients were taking disulfiram. Group 2 patients had initial testing done while taking disulfiram and repeat testing after the drug was stopped. The following abnormalities were found and were not affected by disulfiram: lack of suppression of both growth hormone and glucagon with oral glucose intake, and lack of response of follicle-stimulating hormone after administration of synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone. After disulfiram administration, we noticed a blunted response of thyrotropin to thyrotropin-releasing hormone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Tampa Veterans Administration Medical Center, FL.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ables
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Butcher
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007980:Levodopa; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011897:Random Allocation; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone; D007980:Levodopa; D005934:Glucagon; D004221:Disulfiram