J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2012 Jul;51(4):164-169.

Clinical Factors Correlated to Delirium Tremens during Acute Alcohol Withdrawal of Inpatients with Alcohol Dependence

• Lee JS
• Lee BH
• Ji H
• Jang GH
• Shin HE

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to explore clinical factors or high-risk factors associated with occurrence of delirium tremens (DT) during acute alcohol withdrawal in inpatients with alcohol dependence.
METHODS
This study included 164 inpatients seeking treatment for acute alcohol withdrawal in the detoxification unit. All subjects were evaluated prospectively for known risk factors for DT and their occurrence of DT. Correlations were determined between risk factors obtained at admission and development of DT.
RESULTS
Among all subjects, 42 patients (25.6%) suffered from delirium tremens within seven days after admission. DT patients had more severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, the presence of past DT, and higher levels of aspartate aminotransferas, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, and homocysteine, compared with patients who did not suffer DTs. According to results of a multiple regression, occurrence of DT showed correlation with the following factors at admission: tremor, a past history of DT, higher homocysteine level, and nausea and vomiting.
CONCLUSION
Development of DT showed correlation with symptoms of severe alcohol withdrawal, past history of DT, and higher homocysteine level. Among these, a severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and a history of DT are factors that can be easily evaluated on the day of admission in order to predict the potential for occurrence of DT.

Keyword

Alcohol dependence; Delirium tremens; Clinical factor

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium
Alcoholism
Aspartic Acid
Delirium
Homocysteine
Humans
Inpatients
Nausea
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
Tremor
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartic Acid
Homocysteine

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