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Alcoholic withdrawal syndrome and seizures
H Essardas Daryanani1, F J Santolaria, E Gonzalez Reimers
1Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
|May 1, 1994
Summary
Alcohol withdrawal seizures can occur before other symptoms and may predict future seizures. Morning withdrawal symptoms may indicate a higher risk of delirium tremens in alcoholics.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Addiction Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a common clinical concern.
- Seizures are a severe manifestation of AWS.
- Brain atrophy is frequently observed in chronic alcoholism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of seizures in AWS.
- To examine the relationship between seizures and other AWS symptoms.
- To assess brain atrophy in AWS patients and its correlation with withdrawal severity.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 72 hospitalized alcoholics undergoing alcohol withdrawal was studied.
- Data collected included seizure occurrence, withdrawal symptom severity, and CT scans for brain atrophy.
- Statistical analysis explored relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- 46% of patients experienced seizures upon admission, preceding other withdrawal symptoms.
- Seizures showed no correlation with other withdrawal manifestations like delirium tremens.
- Brain atrophy (ventricular and sulcal enlargement) was observed, but cortical atrophy correlated with prior AWS episodes, not current seizure status or delirium tremens.
Conclusions:
- Seizures in AWS are an independent event preceding other symptoms.
- A history of seizures during alcohol withdrawal may predict future seizure risk.
- Morning withdrawal symptoms are associated with an increased risk of developing delirium tremens.