title: Cerebral atrophy and plasma cortisol levels in alcoholics after short or a long period of abstinence.
abstract: Basal cortisol levels were significantly lower in 4 week abstinent alcoholics (n = 11; group A) than in normal controls (n = 9; group C), whereas no significant difference was found between alcoholics abstinent greater than 1 year (n = 9; group B) and controls. In all groups, dexamethasone induced a similar decrease in circulating cortisol concentrations. Computed tomographic examinations showed a significantly higher ventricular-brain ratio VBR) and wider 3rd ventricle width in group A than in group B; no significant differences were observed between groups B and C. In contrast, the number of cerebral sulci was similar in all groups. A negative relationship was found between neuroradiological findings and basal cortisol values in group A, but not in groups B and C. The neuropsychological tests showed worse scores in group A than in the other groups. These findings show subcortical damages and reduced cortisol levels in alcoholics after 4 weeks of abstinence. These alterations appear to be at least in part reversible after a long period of abstinence.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchesi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Risio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campanini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiodera
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Vescovi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Coiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013695:Temperance; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone