Human body temperature and controlled cold exposure during moderate and severe experimental alcohol-intoxication

In an attempt to obtain more conclusive data, especially concerning the condition in many cases of very high alcohol concentration, two groups of healthy volunteers were exposed to controlled cold surroundings in a climate chamber after i.v. infusion of 96% ethyl alcohol, 1-2 1/2 ml per kg bodyweight, supplemented with alcohol perorally; the maximum blood alcohol concentration measured was 57 mmol/l, corresponding to 2.62%. One group was not habituated to drinking; the other group was habituated to heavy drinking, but functioned well socially. During the stay in a neutral environment, the alcohol infusion caused a rapid elevation of skin temperature with a short, but significant delay in temperature elevation in the alcohol-habituated group. After controlled exposure to cold, a rapid fall in surface temperature back to pre-alcoholic infusion values was seen in both groups. During cold exposure, core temperature remained unchanged in both groups. No changes in plasma catecholamines were found. A 12-18% increase in metabolic rate was seen in both groups during cold exposure, probably as an expression of the specific dynamic effect of alcohol. That the observed vasoconstriction was sufficient to prevent an undue fall in core temperature is further supported by the fact that neither shivering, nor non-shivering thermogenesis was activated, as no visible shivering occurred and no rise in plasma catecholamines was seen.