The prolonged P(300) latency in recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients is related to activation of the inflammatory response system.
The aims of this study were to examine the late components of the auditory event-related potentials (AERPs), i.e. N(100), P(200) and P(300), in recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients compared to normal controls and to investigate whether there is a relationship between alterations in these AERPs and signs of activation of the inflammatory response system (IRS). The study subjects consisted of 14 healthy volunteers and 14 recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients. All subjects performed a two-tone auditory discrimination task, using a standard "oddball" paradigm. The alcohol-dependent patients had their blood sampled to examine IRS markers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum copper concentrations and the number of leukocytes. The P(300) latency was significantly greater in recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients than in normal controls. There were significant correlations between the P(300) latency and the ESR (r = 0.84, p = 0.009), serum copper concentrations (r = 0.73, p = 0.01) and number of monocytes (r = 0.71, p = 0.006). It is concluded that the P(300) latency is prolonged in detoxified, chronic alcohol-dependent patients and is positively related to indicators of IRS activation. It is hypothesized that activation of the IRS may play a role in the delayed P(300) latency in recently detoxified, alcohol-dependent patients.
Maes
M
M
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University Hospital of Maastricht, Postbus 5800, NL-6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. crc-mh@online.be
van West
D
D
Nuyten
D
D
Neels
H
H
De Vos
N
N
De Bruyne
S
S
Degroote
J
J
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D009000:Monocytes; D009504:Neutrophils
D003300:Copper