[Significance of alcohol abstinence in alcoholic cardiomyopathy with moderate left ventricular dysfunction]

To evaluate the role of a 12 month alcohol abstinence period in patients with moderate left ventricular dysfunction treated with anticongestive therapy.

Prospective observational study with 20 patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM), 9 (45%) in functional class (FC) II and 11 (55%) in FC III, 16 (80%) men, mostly black (55%), from 35 to 56 (x = 45) years old, heavy alcohol users (> 80 g ethanol for 51 to 112 (x = 88) months. At the beginning, all agreed to participate with psychotherapy and clinical evaluation. After 12 months, they were divided in G-I, formed by those who remained abstemious and G-II of non-abstemious.

After 12 months, among the 11 (55%) who remained in psychotherapy, 8 were in G-I, among those who did not 9 (45%), only 2 (22.22%) remained abstemious (G-I). At the end of the evaluation period, both groups had the same number of patients. Comparing them, we observed: a) lower mean systolic and diastolic left ventricular diameters in G-I; b) more hospitalizations in G-II (3); c) more patients with stable or better clinical evaluation in G-I.

Despite the initial will, only 50% reached abstinence. When it was reached, patients had a better evolution in left ventricular systolic diameter and abstinence should always be tried even in the presence of moderate left ventricular dysfunction.