Cerebral atrophy and plasma cortisol levels in alcoholics after short or a long period of abstinence.
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.
Marchesi
C
C
Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Parma, Italy.
De Risio
C
C
Campanini
G
G
Piazza
P
P
Grassi
M
M
Chiodera
P
P
Vescovi
P P
PP
Coiro
V
V
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
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone