Alcohol and Heart Disease in Ceylon

Abstract

Alcoholic heart disease occurred in one-third of the subjects who exhibited a heavy consumption of alcohol for more than 10 years. In a series of 27 patients with objective signs of alcoholic cardiomyopathy the age ranged from 35 to 66 (mean 46.1) years. The association with liver disease and liver function impairment was rather infrequent. The role of thiamine deficiency appeared unlikely. In Ceylon, the alcoholic content of most local alcoholic beverages is high. There is little knowledge regarding the cardio-toxic effects of other constituents of these drinks. There is little doubt that some are deadly, for prolonged coma and death are not infrequent.

Alcohol and the Physician – Sri Lankan context

“…Endomyocardial biopsy showed myocarditis with lymphocytic infiltration, myocyte degeneration and focal necrosis in about 30% of patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy 21 . In a study of 27 Sri Lankan patients with alcoholic heart disease 22 there was only slight derangement of liver function tests, except in two cases with cirrhosis of the liver and one with alcoholic hepatitis. Serum cholesterol was low.…”

Aetiological Factors in Pancreatic Calcification in Ceylon

“…The nature of the indigenous distilled spirits and home brews consumed have been described in detail in several other communications [7][8][9]. In 53 of 82 patients serum amylase determinations were done.…”