Endocrine function in alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome.
Hypothalamic-pituitary function was studied by means of several dynamic endocrine tests in 19 patients with alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome, 17 non-amnesic alcoholics and 21 non-alcoholic controls. The responses of thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone to a combined thyrotropin releasing hormone and gonadoliberin stimulation test did not differ significantly. For the dexamethasone suppression test, the Korsakoff patients had significantly higher basal serum cortisol and 08:00 hr post-dexamethasone cortisol levels than non-alcoholic controls. These findings raise the possibility that chronically elevated cortisol levels may contribute to cognitive impairment in alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome.
Emsley
R A
RA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa.
Roberts
M C
MC
Aalbers
C
C
Taljaard
F J
FJ
Kotze
T J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000425:Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone