J. Nagy et al., INCREASED INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM LEVEL IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS OF ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS UNDER WITHDRAWAL, Drug and alcohol dependence, 32(2), 1993, pp. 107-111
Cytosolic free Ca2+ functions as a main regulator of numerous cellular
processes, including those implicated in synthesis, release and respo
nsiveness of hormones and neurotransmitters are discussed. To examine
whether a change in the intracellular free calcium ion concentration [
Ca2+]i occurs associated with delirium tremens and related states we c
ompared [Ca2+]i in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of alcoho
lic patients under withdrawal with that of non-alcoholic patients and
of healthy controls. [Ca2+]i in PBMC of alcoholic patients was signifi
cantly higher (P < 0.001) compared to both control groups, suggesting
that changes in [Ca2+]i may be relevant to increased excitability of t
he central nervous system. Increased [Ca2+]i in PBMC might be diagnost
ically valuable as a biological marker of alcohol dependency.