EFFECT OF ACUTE ETHANOL INGESTION ON ORTHOSTATIC VITAL SIGNS

Study objective: To determine the effect of acute ethanol intoxication on the results of orthostatic tilt testing. Design: Prospective, rand omized crossover study. Subjects received ethanol (1.1 gm/kg) or an eq ual volume of water added to nonalcoholic beer. Orthostatic vital sign s, ethanol concentration, and relative volume status were checked init ially and hourly for 8 hours. Participants: Twenty healthy human volun teers, 10 men, and 10 women. Results: Peak ethanol concentration was 1 16 +/- 18 mg/dL (mean +/- SD) 1 hour after ingestion. ANOVA for repeat ed measures revealed a significant difference in orthostatic pulse cha nge and relative volume deficit between the ethanol and placebo groups (P<.05). Post hoc testing revealed significant differences between th e two groups at two, five, seven and eight hours post ingestion for pu lse change, and two to eight hours for volume status (Bonferroni's cor rected t test, P<.0055). Al 2 and 5 to 8 hours, there were significant ly more positive tilt tests (+/- 30 beat/minute increase) in the ethan ol group than in the placebo group (P<.05). Starting at 2 hours, the e thanol group had a statistically significant relative fluid deficit av eraging .5 L by 3 hours. There was no difference in postural blood pre ssure changes between the two groups. Conclusion: In healthy volunteer s, ethanol intoxication resulted in exaggerated postural pulse changes and in a greater proportion of positive orthostatic tilt test results than in a placebo group. These changes were accompanied by significan t relative fluid deficits.