Thiamine deficiency and brain atrophy in alcoholic patients]

CT brain scans of 65 alcohol-dependent inpatients were compared before and after 6 weeks of confirmed abstinence. Linear measurements revealed a significant reduction of the enlargement of the ventricular system in accordance with the re-expansion of the brain after alcohol abstinence (ANOVA, significant time effects). 22 patients showed a moderate or severe thiamine deficiency. CT findings on thiamine-deficient patients did not differ from those on patients without thiamine deficiency (ANOVA, no significant group effects). Correlations between thiamine deficiency and subcortical atrophy before treatment were not significant. The results are discussed in relation to the pathogenesis of reversible brain shrinkage in chronic alcoholics.