ABSTRACT
The brain's morphologic changes induced by chronic abuse of ethanol are studied, using the computerized tomography (CT) of 1005 clinical records reviewed during 1982-1987 at "Hospital Universitario de Granada", only 33 were selected as patients suffering from chronic alcoholism, CTs having been performed. The results were compared with 33 CTs of non-drinking patients. The ventricular index (VI), the evans' index (EI), the transversal diameter of third ventricle (TD) and cerebral sulcus evaluation were the values analysed to estimate the degree of cerebral atrophy. It was proven that a significant decrease of VI, an increase of EI, TD and cerebral sulcus in chronic alcoholic patients exists compared to non-drinkers. 70% of the alcoholic patients had cerebral atrophy. The conclusion of this study is that chronic alcoholism is an important causal factors of the cerebral atrophy process, regardless of age, alcohol intake quantity and/or the existence of other associate pathology.
