Hemodynamic alterations in alcohol-related transitory hypertension

Alcoholic patients are often transiently hypertensive (tHT) during days 1–3 of withdrawal but become normotensive thereafter. However, at 3–4 weeks postwithdrawal these tHT patients may still show exaggerated blood pressure rises to isometric handgrip exercise. We examined the hemodynamic mechanisms...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) N.Y.), 1996-07, Vol.13 (4), p.387-393
Main Authors: King, Andrea C., Bernardy, Nancy C., Parsons, Oscar A., Lovallo, William R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Alcohol dependence
Alcoholism - complications
Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Pressure
Cardiac output
Exercise - physiology
Hand Strength
Health Status
Heart Rate
Hemodynamics
Humans
Hypertension - etiology
Hypertension - physiopathology
Liquor consumption
Male
Medical sciences
Peripheral resistance
Regression Analysis
Stroke Volume
Toxicology
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Summary:Alcoholic patients are often transiently hypertensive (tHT) during days 1–3 of withdrawal but become normotensive thereafter. However, at 3–4 weeks postwithdrawal these tHT patients may still show exaggerated blood pressure rises to isometric handgrip exercise. We examined the hemodynamic mechanisms associated with persistent altered pressure response. Forty-two alcoholic inpatients were equally divided into three subgroups based on admission BPs: transitory hypertensive (tHT; BP ≥ 160/95 mmHg), transitory borderline hypertensive (tBH; 140/90 ≤ BP < 160/95), and normotensive (NT; BP < 140/90). After 3–4 weeks of sobriety, the alcoholics and a normotensive nonalcoholic group (CONTs; n = 14) were tested during rest and an isometric handgrip task. Impedance cardiographic evaluation at both times showed elevated peripheral resistance, elevated heart rate, and reduced stroke volume in tHTs. Liquor consumption was found to be highly predictive of the altered hemodynamic and BP activity. Alcoholic patients with acute withdrawal hypertension (1–3 days) may show a persistent alteration of BP regulation even when resting pressures are normal.
ISSN:0741-8329
1873-6823
DOI:10.1016/0741-8329(96)00029-8