Category: Fundamentals Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, is widely consumed for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet effects. Salicylate toxicity is not a benign condition and causes a complex set of life-threatening metabolic derangements.
Category: Fundamentals Delirium tremens is a life-threatening manifestation of alcohol withdrawal and consists of gross tremor, frightening visual hallucinations, profound confusion, agitation and hyperadrenergic syndrome.
Category: Fundamentals Alcoholic ketoacidosis occurs most frequently in severe chronic alcoholics who have had a recent binge followed 1 to 3 days later by protracted vomiting, decreased food intake, dehydration and abstinence.
Category: Fundamentals Korsakoff’s psychosis or amnesic state, also called alcohol-induced persisting amnestic disorder, is a disorder with recent memory impairment, inability to learn new information or recall previously learned information, apathy and confabulation.
Category: Fundamentals A symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy is common with chronic alcohol abuse, usually in the lower extremities. It is thought to be due to nutritional deficiency with thiamine or vitamin B12 deficit and a direct neurotoxic effect of alcohol.
Category: Fundamentals Thiamine, vitamin B12, amino acids, folic acid and glucose have impaired absorption in alcoholics. Dietary deficiencies in folic acid and protein and direct toxic effects of ethanol on the GI tract contribute to malabsorption.
Category: Fundamentals No specific medical therapy exists for alcoholic liver disease other than abstinence, proper diet, and management of the subsequent hepatic decompensation (ie, ascites, encephalopathy).
Category: Fundamentals Cirrhosis is the disruption of the normal architecture of the liver by scarring and regenerating nodules of parenchyma. Alcoholism is the most common cause of cirrhosis in the United States and is responsible for half of all cirrhotic deaths.
Category: Fundamentals Alcoholic patients have a higher incidence of gastric cancer and esophageal carcinoma. Acute alcohol ingestion decreases lower esophageal sphincter pressure, delays gastric emptying and disrupts the gastric mucosal barrier.
Category: Fundamentals Supraventricular (usually atrial fibrillation) and ventricular (usually transitory ventricular tachycardia) dysrhythmias, labeled holiday heart, have been documented in alcoholic patients who have been drinking heavily.
Category: Fundamentals Heavy alcohol consumption has a detrimental effect on those with preexisting CAD. It can reduce exercise tolerance, induce coronary vasoconstriction and raise heart rate and blood pressure.
Category: Fundamentals Acute and chronic ethanol consumption can affect the mechanical function of the heart, produce dysrhythmias, and exacerbate coronary artery disease. It may alter myocardial function by direct toxic effects.
Category: Fundamentals The neurophysiology of alcohol withdrawal is complex. The hallmark of alcohol withdrawal is central nervous system (CNS) excitation, with increased cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and urinary catecholamine levels.
Category: Fundamentals Isopropyl alcohol irritates mucosal surfaces and GI effects typically occur early after ingestion. Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain typically ensue, but hemorrhagic gastritis, hematemesis and blood loss can result with larger ingestions.
Category: Fundamentals Isopropyl alcohol directly acts as a CNS depressant and is considered to be twice as inebriating as ethanol. With larger doses, peripheral vasodilation and decreased cardiac inotropy can cause hypotension.
