[Hypophysio-adrenal axis in patients with chronic alcoholism].
OBJECTIVE
To study the situation of the hypophyso-adrenal axis in patients with chronic alcoholism.


METHODS
24 patients with chronic alcoholism admitted in our Institution with acute delirium were studied. Cortisol am and pm und (ACTH levels, along with hemogram with Wintrobe indexes, patelets number, triglicerides, total and HDL cholesterol, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyltranspeptidase were measured in serum.


RESULTS
The mean values of ACTH am were 41.2 pcg/ml (normal values 10-80 pcg/ml), of plasma cortisol am 22 mcg/ml (normal values 10-24 mcg/ml) and plasmo cortisol pm 12.3 mcg/ml (normal values 5-12 mcg/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
The amount of alcohol consumed by alcoholic patients ist not comparable to that used in animal models, which induced adrenal hyperfunction. Blood ACTH and cortisol levels are not useful as indirect markers of alcoholism. The Wintrobe indexes and serum gammaglutamyltranspeptidase levels are more useful for that purpose.
Vallina Alvarez
E
E
Cátedra de Patología Médica, Hospital Central, Universidad de Oviedo.
Villaverde Amieva
P
P
Rodríguez Sánchez
J
J
Gallego Villalobos
M
M
González Fernández
E
E
Arribas Castrillo
J M
JM
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010912:Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010976:Platelet Count; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D006854:Hydrocortisone