Chronic alcoholism – a combination with a change in the internal organs, and atherosclerosis

Objective. Establish frequency of change of internal organs and the atherosclerotic process in patients suffering from chronic alcoholism and determine the causes of death.

Material and methods. The results of autopsies of the 94 dead with chronic alcoholism in the Centre of Mental Health for 2005–2014 years. Analysis of the material was carried out on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic examination (histological specimens stained with hematoxylin-eosin, pikrofuksin on Van Gieson, on myelin by Kluver-Barrera). During the autopsy, it drew attention to the presence of atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta, coronary and cerebral arteries.

Results. According to the morphological study and pathologic diagnosis all observations are as follows: delirium tremens – 24, encephalopathy Gayet-Wernicke – 13, alcoholic encephalopathy – 10, alcoholic dementia – 3, myelinolysis pontis – 8, disease Marchiafawa-Bignami – 1, alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver – 1. All observations were accompanied by severe morphological changes at least 3–4 of the internal organs. Severe atrophic gastritis occurred in 39 cases (75 %), alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy – 31 (59.6 %), sclerosing pancreatitis – 32 (61.5 %), morphological changes in the liver (steatosis and alcoholic hepatitis) – 43 (82.7 %), two observations – alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, bronchopneumonia – 23 (44.2 %). Signs of atherosclerosis were found in 19 cases (36.5 %). The average age of the deceased in these cases was 53.4 years.

Conclusion. Complications of chronic alcoholism accompanied by morphological changes of internal organs, which greatly aggravate the disease. The most significant are the changes in the heart in the form of alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy with the development of acute or chronic cardiovascular failure. A certain importance is pancreatitis, which can result in the development of pancreatic necrosis and changes in the liver with the development of liver failure. In some cases (especially in patients with alcoholic dementia) a major role in tanatogenesis can play bronchopneumonia. Atherosclerotic process is not significant in tanatogenesis of patients with chronic alcoholism and occurs predominantly in elderly patients.

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