Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: November | Volume: 7 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 74-83
Serum Electrolytes and Hepatic Enzymes Level in Alcohol Withdrawal Patients with and Without Delirium Tremens - A Comparative Study
Dr Ankur Jyoti Borah1, Dr. Kamala Deka2, Dr. Kailash Bhattacharyya3
1Senior Resident, Department of Psychiatry, LGBRIMH, Tezpur 784001
2Professor&Head , Department of Psychiatry, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Assam
3Professor & Head, Department of Biochemistry, Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh 786002
Corresponding Author: Dr Ankur jyoti Borah
ABSTRACT
Background: Delirium Tremens (DTs) is an emergency situation with high mortality rate in alcohol withdrawal patient. Despite in an era of intensive care and advanced pharmacotherapy, the current mortality in patients with DTs ranges from 5-15 % due to respiratory failure and cardiac arrhythmias.
Aims and objectives-
To estimate and compare the Level of serum ions (Na+, k+,Mg2+,Cl-) and hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT) in alcohol withdrawal patients with and without delirium tremens.
Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was conducted for a period of one year from July 2013 to July 2014 at department of psychiatry, Assam medical College Hospital. 50cases of alcohol withdrawal with Delirium tremens (F 10.4) and 50 cases without DT (F10.3) were studied from the same socio-cultural background after ethical clearance from institutional review board. Diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal (F10.3) and DT (F10.4) were confirmed both clinically, using ICD-10 and patients were evaluated using Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, Revised (CIWA-Ar). Clinical and investigation details were studied with the help of advanced clinical biochemistry Laboratory, Assam medical college hospital.
Results-1.Significant difference (p<0.05) of serum K+ and Mg++ is found in DT group (F 10.4)
Hepatic enzymes AST and GGT is also changed significantly (p<0.05) in DT group (F10.4) than the non DT alcohol withdrawal (F 10.3) group.
Conclusion: Patients with Delirium tremens have a significant hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and deranged levels of hepatic enzymes than F 10.3 group.
Key words: Mortality of delirium tremens, serum ions, hepatic enzymes.