Normalization of regional cerebral blood flow in alcoholics during the first 7 weeks of abstinence

Abstract

Twenty-two institutionalized alcoholics were studied after 1, 3, 5 and 7 weeks of abstinence with measurements of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), psychometric testing and clinical ratings. Twenty-two healthy volunteers served as age-matched controls. Mean rCBF was significantly reduced in the alcoholics at all measurements compared to the controls. The older alcoholics (median cut) showed a 9% increase of rCBF from the 1st to the 7th week (P less than 0.01). The mean rCBF in these alcoholics also increased more in the right than in the left hemisphere (P less than 0.05) during the investigation. The differences between the alcoholics and the controls were most pronounced in the right frontal lobe. The mean flow changes were correlated to improvement in clinical state. Right hemisphere and frontal lobe flow decreases were more accentuated in older alcoholics.

Regional cerebral blood flow at the time of diagnosis of chronic toxic encephalopathy induced by organic-solvent exposure and after the cessation of exposure.

“…It is not likely that this phenomenon is caused by regression towards the mean since a low CBF level was not used as a selection criteria for the group . The results are in agreement with our recent finding of a normalization of regional CBF in chronic alcohol abusers during abstinence (13). A subgroup of older alcoholics with a low mean flow level showed more marked normalization during seven weeks of abstinence than younger alcoholics with less reduced regional CBF .…”

“…We have previou sly reported similar frontal regional CBF reductions in chronic alcohol abusers (12,13).…”

“…Chronic alcoholics have been found to ha ve reduced regional CBF, espe ciall y in th e frontal lobe s (12). Some normalization ha s been seen after a per iod of abstinenc e (13). Patients with alcohol dementia have, ho wever , a per sistent regional C BF redu ction (12).…”

History of Brain Imaging in Psychiatry

“…The main reason for this might be that we have not understood the mecha nisms which determine the primary experience of plea sure following alcohol intake. Earlier brain imaging stud ies by Berglund et al [24] have demonstrated rCBF reduc tions in chronic alcoholism. This reduction was reversible following discontinuation of the abuse.…”

Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Measurements in the Clinical Evaluation of Demented Patients

“…The degree of CBF decrease seems mainly to depend on the severity of the dementia symptoms [9,17], A patient in an early phase of disease might show a nor mal global flow level in spite of obvious clinical symptoms and regional flow pathology. A global CBF decrease is an unspecific sign found in a variety of disorders like general ized metabolic disturbances, vitamin B!2 deficiency [18], toxic influence from drugs or alcohol [19] and subcortical pathology affecting wakefulness [20], The CBF level has thus limited value for the diagnosis of dementia. It is, however, useful in the evaluation of the global cortical functional disturbance of the demented patient and is also of value when the course of illness in the individual patient is followed [21].…”