Cardiac function assessed by gated heart pool studies in an alcohol clinic population: a preliminary study

The nuclear gated heart pool scan was used to assess the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in 19 patients attending the Drug and Alcohol Unit for treatment of their alcoholism. Eighteen of the patients were asymptomatic and had no signs of cardiac impairment. In 14 subjects (13 asymptomatic), the LVEF was subnormal. Repeat studies were performed in 10 of the subjects following a period of 4-9 months of reduced intake of alcohol or abstinence. The LVEF improved in four subjects, remained unchanged in four, and actually decreased in two others despite a reduction in reported alcohol intake.