Physiological assessment of male alcoholism.

In 100 consecutive male inpatients with alcohol dependence and an equal number of age, sex, occupation and regional background matched controls, the value ofgamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and serum triglycerides were statistically significantly raised among alcoholics on admission as compared to controls. After five weeks of enforced abstinence in hospital the values of GGT, SGOT and SGPT showed significant reduction among alcohol consumption, these objective laboratory tests can be used to support the clinical diagnosis of alcohol dependence. Electrocardiographic abnormalities viz. Sinus tachycardia, intraventricular conduction defects, T wave abnormalities and QTC prolongation occurred significantly more frequently in alcohol dependence patients as compared to normal controls.