Computed Tomography Evaluation of Brain in Chronic Alcoholics

Background  Chronic alcoholism causes brain damage. Published data from rural India is scant. Our aim is to determine computed tomography (CT) changes in the brain of rural chronic alcoholics. Methods  This prospective cross-sectional study was done in our tertiary care hospital on chronic alcoholic patients referred from deaddiction center over a period of 2 years. Age- and sex-matched nonalcoholic controls were included and Student's t -test and chi-square test comparison was done. Correlation coefficient was obtained by Pearson's correlation coefficient. Patients and the controls were studied in two age groups: 30 to 45 and 46 to 60 years. Noncontrast CT scan of head was done in each case and CT indices of brain damage were measured. Results  The study included 106 alcoholics out of which 55 were in the younger age group (30-45 years) and 51 in the older age group (46-60 years). Seven hundred age-matched, nonalcoholic controls were included. Mean values of ethanol were higher in the older age group than in the younger age group. As compared with controls, various CT scan indices of ventricular changes, cortical changes, and subcortical changes were significantly higher in both age groups. In both age groups, there was a significant decrease in the mean values of hemoglobin and a significant increase in the mean values of indices of brain damage with increase in the grade of alcoholism. Conclusion  The results of this prospective epidemiological study showed marked alterations in all CT indices of brain atrophy and were correlated to the duration and amount of ethanol consumption. This study highlights that chronic alcoholism is a significant risk factor for brain atrophy.