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Alcohol misuse: a risk factor for putaminal damage by ischemic brain infarct?
A Leppävuori1, R Vataja, T Pohjasvaara
1Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
European Neurology
|August 29, 2003
Summary
Alcohol misuse in stroke patients is linked to specific brain infarct locations, particularly the putamen. Further research is needed to confirm these findings on alcohol
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- The link between alcohol consumption and ischemic stroke risk is known.
- However, the specific impact of alcohol use on stroke characteristics remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare clinical and stroke features in ischemic stroke patients with alcohol use disorder versus social drinkers.
- To identify specific cerebral infarct locations associated with alcohol misuse.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosed alcohol use disorder using DSM-IV criteria in 275 of 486 ischemic stroke patients (aged 55-85).
- Assessed stroke features and performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 3 months post-stroke.
- Compared infarct localization between patients with alcohol use disorder and social drinkers.
Main Results:
- Alcohol use disorder was diagnosed in 13.5% of ischemic stroke patients.
- Patients with alcohol use disorder showed significantly higher rates of putamen infarcts (70.3% vs. 34.5%).
- Large-artery atherosclerosis stroke and infarcts in the superior anterior cerebral artery area were also more common in patients with alcohol use disorder.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol misuse in ischemic stroke patients is associated with specific infarct patterns, notably in the putamen and superior anterior cerebral artery territories.
- These findings suggest a potential link between alcohol use disorder and particular stroke pathologies.
- Prospective studies are recommended to validate these preliminary observations.