Alcoholic encephalopathy: symptoms and treatment

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2019-07-22 10:00:34

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Alcoholic encephalopathy is severe involvement of the Central nervous system caused by alcohol abuse. This term denotes not just one condition but a whole range of abnormalities of the brain. Encephalopathy typically occurs in people suffering from alcohol dependence the second or third stage. Pathology is preceded by several years of regular drinking and the physical dependence of alcohol.

Causes and pathogenesis pathology

The Cause of alcoholic encephalopathy of the brain is a long-term abuse of ethanol. The disease develops in alcoholics with the experience. The first signs of damage to the Central nervous system precedes 5 - 15 years of systematic drunkenness. However, in some cases, the disease occurs much earlier. This can lead to the following adverse factors:

  • The consumption of beverages of lower quality;
  • Drinking in diseases of the internal organs;
  • Low tolerance of ethanol.

These considerations lead to the rapid formation of alcoholic encephalopathy of the brain. What is it? Ethanol dramatically reduces the absorption of vitamin B. These substances are responsible for the condition of the nervous system. As a result, the body is formed vitamin deficiency. Brain cells are vulnerable to negative influences.

B1 Deficiency causes encephalopathy

If the body is constantly receiving large doses of alcohol, the ethanol is converted into acetaldehyde. This substance acts on the neurons as the poison, it becomes the cause of poor health during hangover. Acetaldehyde poisoning nerve cells. Therefore, the disease completely is called: alcoholic toxic encephalopathy.

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In addition, the body is a disorder of metabolism. Disturbed function of the liver, which is involved in the processing of b vitamins the brain Vessels become more fragile, which leads to swelling of the body and small hemorrhages.

Disease

This disease can occur in acute and chronic form. In the first case there are severe and life-threatening disorders. Acute encephalopathy manifests as the syndrome gayet-Wernicke. This condition requires immediate treatment. It is accompanied by mental disorders and severe deterioration of General condition.

In chronic alcoholic encephalopathy occurs in the form of Korsakoff's psychosis, or alcoholic pseudoparalysis. These diseases often occur in patients with a long addiction, having in the past episodes of delirious state (delirium tremens or hallucinosis).

Disease Code

According to the international classification of diseases, ninth revision code alcoholic encephalopathy - 291.1. This disease is treated mental disorders. Currently valid classification of diseases, tenth revision (ICD-10).

Alcoholic encephalopathy in ICD-10 refers to the decoder 9. Disease refers to diseases of the nervous system. Such diseases in the international classification of diseases, indicated by figure 9.

Before alcoholic encephalopathy in ICD-10 took place under the code of 93.4. This meant "Encephalopathy unspecified origin." Now this code is excluded from the classification.

Currently, this code alcoholic encephalopathy in ICD-10 refers to the section G31. The division is comprised of degenerative disease of the nervous system. Code of alcoholic encephalopathy in ICD - 10 G31.2, this means "Degeneration of the nervous system caused by alcohol".

Prodrome

Often before the appearance of the first signs of alcoholic encephalopathy the patient is in a prolonged drinking bout, after which there is a heavy withdrawal syndrome. But it also happens that the manifestations of the disease occur when daily systematic consumption of alcohol. The patient retains the capacity for work and activity.

Alcoholism - the cause of encephalopathy

Before the advent of the clearest manifestations of the pathology observed harbingers of disease. If encephalopathy occurs in the chronic form, the prodromal period is prolonged to 1 year. In the acute form of disease, the initial symptoms of the disease lasts 2 - 3 weeks.

Prodromal period is characterized by the following manifestations:

  1. The Patient becomes drowsy and lethargic, often feels fatigued.
  2. Deteriorating sleep, the patient often wakes up in the middle of the night.
  3. There diarrhoeal phenomenon: nausea and diarrhea.
  4. There is an aversion to fat and protein food.
  5. Patients concerned about night terrors and bad dreams is the first signs of mental disorders.
  6. The Patient becomes short-tempered and irritable.
  7. Rapidly deteriorating memory.
  8. The Symptoms of the autonomic nervous system: chills, tachycardia, sweating.

In some patients it is noted a pulling of lips a tubule when you touch them. This symptom is called oral automatism, it is usually observed in young children. In adults this is a sign of serious neurological and mental disorders.

There May be swelling of the face, strabismus, and tremor of the eyeballs. If you do not start therapy at this stage, the disease is hardtreatable.

Symptoms acute

Acute alcoholic encephalopathy is in the form of syndrome gayet-Wernicke. This pathology is caused by deficiency of vitamin B1. This syndrome is observed in other types of such a vitamin deficiency, not necessarily associated with alcoholism. But in this case, the lack of nutrients is caused by the abuse of alcohol.

The Syndrome gayet-Wernicke is a very dangerous condition. The clinical picture unfolds in just a few days, then the patient falls into a coma, which can lead to death.

Signs of alcoholic encephalopathy

Note the following symptoms:

  1. Patients get delirium with hallucinations.
  2. With the patient is impossible to establish contact, his speech slurred.
  3. Language the patient acquires a crimson color, the liver is enlarged, swollen face.
  4. The Patient commits disorderly chaotic movement.
  5. Body Temperature rises to +40 - +41 degrees.
  6. The patient has tachycardia and rapid breathing HELL while falling.
  7. Appear convulsions.
  8. Strabismus Occurs and hemorrhaging in the sclera.

About 2 weeks occurs coma, ending in death. Medical care in the acute form of the disease should be given immediately. However, the outcome of the disease depends on the shape of its flow.

The consequences of acute encephalopathy

If the acute form of the disease is favorable, it is characterized by a delirious state with hallucinations and delusions that can last up to 1.5 months. Death does not occur. The consequence of the disease becomes chronic brain syndrome. The patient noted decreased intelligence and memory, and volitional functions. There is depression and irritability. The patient permanently loses efficiency, since such disruption of the brain irreversibly.

Acute encephalopathy can occur in motivirovannoe form. Within 1-2 months the patient has depression, increased anxiety and hypochondriacal state, then come the hallucinations and delusions.

The Most unfavourable period is characterized by a lightning form. Prodromal period lasts 3 weeks, followed by severe delirium with symptoms of Central nervous system. This form of the disease usually lasts a few days, then comes death. If a patient manages to survive, then comes pseudospiralis, accompanied by severe mental disorders.

Symptoms of Korsakoff's psychosis

A Chronic form of encephalopathy can occur in the form of Korsakoff's psychosis. This form of the disease is more often observed in women.

There is a serious memory impairment. Patients do not remember even recent events. The assimilation of new information is impossible. There are false memories, patients tell about events that never happened. Patients are not oriented in space and his personality, can't answer simple questions. Sick little move, their vocabulary is significantly reduced. You experience inflammation of the nerves in the hands and feet.

Clinical pseudoparalysis

This form of chronic encephalopathy characteristic of the male. It is characterized by mental disorders and gross personality changes. Sharply reduced intelligence. The patient loses all previous skills.

memory impairment with encephalopathy

The man disappears, the self-criticism. Patients become rude, cynical, they have mood swings from severe irritation to complete indifference to everything going on. This is accompanied by limb tremor, speech disorders. There is a feeling of numbness in the hands and feet, and muscle weakness, this disease is called pseudoparalysis.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of the disease begins with a medical history. It is necessary to establish the fact of abuse of alcohol. To confirm the diagnosis, prescribe the following tests:

  • EEG;
  • MRI and CT of the brain.

In addition, the doctor probes the region of the liver, in this pathology the organ is usually enlarged. Also prescribed a blood test for liver enzymes: when encephalopathy their level is higher than normal.

Drug therapy

Treatment of alcoholic encephalopathy is carried out in a hospital. Prescribed diet rich in proteins and vitamins. For therapy use the following medicines:

  • Vitamins PP, C and b in injecting;
  • Medications to improve cerebral circulation: "Actovegin", "Cinnarizine", "Piracetam", "Encephabol";
  • Tools to improve the exchange of substances: "Antioxidant", "Mildronate";
  • Anticonvulsant drugs: "Finlepsin", "Relanium".
a Nootropic "Piracetam"

Vitamins and medications to improve metabolism must be taken not only during disease but also after recovery, in the rehabilitation period. Also performed concomitant symptomatic treatment. If the patient is showing signs of liver injury, then prescribed medications. In pancreatitis shown enzymatic drugs, and in infectious complications - antibiotics.

Vitamin injections

If the patient is diagnosed with signs of cerebral edema, then prescribed diuretics: "Verospiron", "Furosemide", "Diacarb".

During the period of treatment is necessary to completely abstain from alcohol. After improvement it is recommended to undergo treatment from alcoholism. Required consultation of the doctor-psychiatrist on the choice of treatment method: coding, hypnosis or the administration of drugs based on teturama.

Prognosis

The Prognosis of alcoholic encephalopathy depends on the form of the disease and timely treatment to the doctor. The acute form of disease accompanied by high mortality. Even if the patient could survive, then he remains a serious violations of intellect, memory and other mental changes.

Chronic forms of the disease have a more favorable prognosis. Korsakoff's psychosis and pseudoparabolic with timely treatment ends recovery. The person gradually returning to normal levels of b vitamins and disappear neurological and mental disorders. However, it is possible only under condition of full refusal of alcohol.

abstinence from alcohol

Prevention

Prevention of disease is primarily in the termination of drinking. If the patient is unable to quit drinking on your own, then you need to seek help from a doctor-narcologist.

In addition, you need the right diet with enough b vitamins it is also Important to monitor blood sugar levels regularly to measure your blood pressure. This will help to reduce the risk of disease.


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DE: https://tostpost.com/de/gesundheit/35092-alkoholische-enzephalopathie-symptome-und-behandlung.html

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Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."

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