Biomaterial Database

[New aspects of the pathogenesis and therapy of alcoholic delirium (author's transl)]. 1977

D Müting, and J Reikowski

Clinically, and especially biochemically, alcoholic delirium corresponds closely to an incipient but reversible exogenous hepatic coma. The blood levels of ammonia in particular, free phenols and lactate are greatly increased. These same metabolites increase slightly in the blood of persons with healthy livers after a single alcohol loading. The treatment of alcoholic delirium consists of optimal sedation with Distraneurin, which appears to have no side effects on the liver. There is even a lowering of the raised lactate level in the blood after a single administration of Distraneurin. Ammonia and phenols are reduced by ammonia-lowering aminoacids, lactulose and bifidum milk. Most important, however, is strict abstention from alcohol, which alone brings about a rapid improvement of pathological biochemical and morphological liver findings.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007200	Indican	A substance occurring in the urine of mammals and also in blood plasma as the normal metabolite of tryptophan. An increased urinary excretion of indican is seen in Hartnup disease from the bacterial degradation of unabsorbed tryptophan.	1H-Indol-3-ol Hydrogen Sulfate Ester,Indican Monopotassium Salt,Indican Monosodium Salt,Indoxyl Sulfate,Monopotassium Salt, Indican,Monosodium Salt, Indican,Sulfate, Indoxyl
D007773	Lactates	Salts or esters of LACTIC ACID containing the general formula CH3CHOHCOOR.
D008103	Liver Cirrhosis	Liver disease in which the normal microcirculation, the gross vascular anatomy, and the hepatic architecture have been variably destroyed and altered with fibrous septa surrounding regenerated or regenerating parenchymal nodules.	Cirrhosis, Liver,Fibrosis, Liver,Hepatic Cirrhosis,Liver Fibrosis,Cirrhosis, Hepatic
D010636	Phenols	Benzene derivatives that include one or more hydroxyl groups attached to the ring structure.
D011604	Psychoses, Alcoholic	A group of mental disorders associated with organic brain damage and caused by poisoning from alcohol.	Alcoholic Psychoses
D002719	Chlormethiazole	A sedative and anticonvulsant often used in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Chlormethiazole has also been proposed as a neuroprotective agent. The mechanism of its therapeutic activity is not entirely clear, but it does potentiate GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID receptors response and it may also affect glycine receptors.	Clomethiazole,Distraneurin
D005234	Fatty Liver	Lipid infiltration of the hepatic parenchymal cells resulting in a yellow-colored liver. The abnormal lipid accumulation is usually in the form of TRIGLYCERIDES, either as a single large droplet or multiple small droplets. Fatty liver is caused by an imbalance in the metabolism of FATTY ACIDS.	Liver Steatosis,Steatohepatitis,Steatosis of Liver,Visceral Steatosis,Liver Steatoses,Liver, Fatty,Steatohepatitides,Steatoses, Liver,Steatoses, Visceral,Steatosis, Liver,Steatosis, Visceral,Visceral Steatoses
D006501	Hepatic Encephalopathy	A syndrome characterized by central nervous system dysfunction in association with LIVER FAILURE, including portal-systemic shunts. Clinical features include lethargy and CONFUSION (frequently progressing to COMA); ASTERIXIS; NYSTAGMUS, PATHOLOGIC; brisk oculovestibular reflexes; decorticate and decerebrate posturing; MUSCLE SPASTICITY; and bilateral extensor plantar reflexes (see REFLEX, BABINSKI). ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY may demonstrate triphasic waves. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1117-20; Plum & Posner, Diagnosis of Stupor and Coma, 3rd ed, p222-5)	Encephalopathy, Hepatic,Portosystemic Encephalopathy,Encephalopathy, Hepatocerebral,Encephalopathy, Portal-Systemic,Encephalopathy, Portosystemic,Fulminant Hepatic Failure with Cerebral Edema,Hepatic Coma,Hepatic Stupor,Hepatocerebral Encephalopathy,Portal-Systemic Encephalopathy,Coma, Hepatic,Comas, Hepatic,Encephalopathies, Hepatic,Encephalopathies, Hepatocerebral,Encephalopathies, Portal-Systemic,Encephalopathies, Portosystemic,Encephalopathy, Portal Systemic,Hepatic Comas,Hepatic Encephalopathies,Hepatic Stupors,Hepatocerebral Encephalopathies,Portal Systemic Encephalopathy,Portal-Systemic Encephalopathies,Portosystemic Encephalopathies,Stupor, Hepatic,Stupors, Hepatic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000430	Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium	An acute organic mental disorder induced by cessation or reduction in chronic alcohol consumption. Clinical characteristics include CONFUSION; DELUSIONS; vivid HALLUCINATIONS; TREMOR; agitation; insomnia; and signs of autonomic hyperactivity (e.g., elevated blood pressure and heart rate, dilated pupils, and diaphoresis). This condition may occasionally be fatal. It was formerly called delirium tremens. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1175)	Alcohol Withdrawal Hallucinosis,Autonomic Hyperactivity, Alcohol Withdrawal Associated,Delirium Tremens,Alcohol Withdrawal Associated Autonomic Hyperactivity,Alcohol Withdrawal-Induced Delirium Tremens,Delirium Tremens, Alcohol Withdrawal Induced,Alcohol Withdrawal Induced Delirium Tremens,Delirium, Alcohol Withdrawal,Hallucinosis, Alcohol Withdrawal