Thyroid Function in Early and Late Alcohol Withdrawal: Relationship with Aggression, Family History, and Onset Age of Alcoholism

• Published in: Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford) 2006-09, Vol.41 (5), p.515-521
• Main Authors: Ozsoy, Saliha, Esel, Ertugrul, Izgi, Hasan Basri, Sofuoglu, Seher
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aggression; alcoholism; family histories; onset; quote marks change to plus/min; thyroid disorders; withdrawal
• ISSN: 0735-0414
• DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/ag1056

Aims: Thyroid dysfunction is a known finding in alcoholism. Most studies have reported the reduction in peripheral thyroid hormones in acute withdrawal & long-term abstinence periods of alcohol dependence. The aim of the present study was to investigate the alterations of free thyroid hormones in early & late withdrawal & their association with aggression, age of onset, & family history of alcoholism. Methods: Male inpatients (n = 39; mean age BFM1X82|END SD: 42.55 BFM1X82|END 8.02 years) in alcohol withdrawal were compared with healthy men (n = 28; mean age BFM1X82|END SD: 38.31 BFM1X82|END 9.26 years). Levels of free thyroxine (fT4), free tri-iodothyronine, (fT3) & thyrothrophin (TSH) were measured in early (first day) & late (28th day) withdrawal in the patients & only once in the controls. Results: In early withdrawal, levels of thyroid hormones did not differ from those in the controls. In late withdrawal, fT3 & fT4 levels (2.71 BFM1X82|END 0.56 & 10.80 BFM1X82|END 1.86 pg/ml) were lower than those of both controls (3.32 BFM1X82|END 0.41 & 11.95 BFM1X82|END 1.49 pg/ml, respectively, P < 0.05 in both cases) & patients in early withdrawal (3.18 BFM1X82|END 0.72 & 12.68 BFM1X82|END 2.50 pg/ml, respectively, P < 0.05 in both cases). Patients were divided into subgroups according to aggression level, onset age of alcoholism, & family history. While the high-aggression group had lower serum levels of fT3 & fT4 in late withdrawal (2.49 BFM1X82|END 0.41 & 10.44 BFM1X82|END 2.15 pg/ml) compared with those of controls (P < 0.05 in both cases), the low-aggression group only had lower serum levels of fT3 in late withdrawal (2.90 BFM1X82|END 0.62 pg/ml) compared with those of controls (P < 0.05). fT3 & fT4 values in the family history-negative group (2.67 BFM1X82|END 0.56 & 10.75 BFM1X82|END 1.88 pg/ml) were lower than those of controls in late withdrawal (P < 0.05 in both cases). Both fT3 & fT4 levels in late withdrawal (2.69 BFM1X82|END 0.54 & 10.83 BFM1X82|END 1.96 pg/ml) were decreased in early-onset group compared with those of controls (P < 0.05 in both cases). Conclusion: Decreased free thyroid hormone levels may be a result of heavy alcohol consumption or a trait marker of alcoholism, especially in high-aggressive, early-onset & family history-negative patients. Tables, References. Adapted from the source document.