title: Effect of alcohol consumption versus abstinence on 24-h blood pressure profile in normotensive alcoholic patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in 15 male alcoholic normotensive subjects during alcohol consumption and following an abstinence phase and the effects of alcohol consumption compared with a period of 1 week of abstinence. The average 24-h BP was not different, but the diurnal pattern showed a fall in systolic BP early (06:00 to noon; P < .005) and late (18:00 to 22:00; P < .002) in the day during abstinence. BP variability was increased during the alcohol phase (P < .05). This study showed that 1 week of abstinence does not influence 24-h BP levels in normotensive subjects, but alters the diurnal pattern, characterized by a fall in systolic BP and increased BP variability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maiorano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bartolomucci
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Contursi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saracino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agostinacchio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged