The lateral ventricles and cortical sulic were measured in computerized axial tomograph of 36 male patients with chronic alcoholism and 36 age-and sex-matched controls, who had been admitted to Korean Veterans Hospital from May, 1991 to August,
1994.
After investigating patients' clinical findings and comparing the data with other studies, we concluded as follows:
1) The mean age of 36 patients was 47.92 years(range 26-64 years), with more patients at the age forties than nay other age groups. The mean amount of alcohol drinking was 186.25±73.08g/day and the average duration of habitual drinking was
18.25±9.61
years(range 5-40 years). According to the past history, 12 patients had delirium tremens(33.3%), 3 had delirious episodes(8.33%), 1 had seizure(2.78%) and 1 had polyneuropathy(2.78%).
2) In patients group, the mean size of sulci and ventricle were 12.43±3.31mm(p<0.001) and 56.77±7.01mm(p<0.001), respectively compared to the controls.
3) A significant number of patients(69.5%) showed suspicious or obvious findings of cerbral atrophy and 30.5% showed findings within normal variance.
4) Among patients with cerebral atrophy, 23 patients(63.89%) showed ventricular enlargement and 3 patients(8.33%) showed suli windening.
5) In comparison of sulci and ventricles according to the age group, chronic alcholic patients, had the findings of enlargement which were significantly different from the those of controls(Table 4), except the patients in their twenties.
6) While the size of sulci(p<0.01) and ventricles(p<0.05) in patient group increased significantly, the control group showed significant increased in sulci size(p<0.001).
7) There were statistically significant correlations between sulci widening and either of followings-amount of daily drinking(p<0.05),duration alcohol drinking(p<0.05) and total amount(amount×duration(p<0.01)).
8) There was statistically significant correlation between marital status and the amount of alcohol drinking. Single patients had the tendency to consume more amount of alcohol than patients who were married(p<0.05).
In conclusion, Chronic alcoholism were found to have significant cerebral atrophy and ventricular enlargement than the control group.
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