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Clinical Predictors of Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium
Author(s) -
Wetterling T.,
Kanitz R.D.,
Veltrup C.,
Driessen M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1994.tb00087.x
Subject(s) - delirium , alcohol withdrawal syndrome , delirium tremens , ataxia , alcohol , medicine , anesthesia , electrolyte imbalance , withdrawal syndrome , psychiatry , chemistry , biochemistry
Up to now, clinical predictors for the course of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome, especially for the occurrence of a delirium, are lacking. Thus, this study was undertaken to examine whether clinical routine investigations at admission before the withdrawal syndrome can reveal factors indicating a higher risk for the development of a delirium. Our results showed that decreased serum electrolyte concentrations (i.e., chloride and potassium), elevated ALT, and γ‐glutamyltransferase serum levels, as well as ataxia and polyneuropathy at the neurological examination, indicate a higher risk for the development of an alcohol withdrawal delirium.