ORGANOMEGALY IN CHRONIC-ALCOHOLICS

We compared the weights of the brain, heart, spleen, lungs, liver, and kidneys, uncorrected and corrected for body surface area (BSA) and bo dy mass index (BMI), of 50 alcoholics with 50 forensic controls matche d for sex, age, and body weight. With the exception of combined renal weight corrected for BSA and BMI, no significant differences were foun d in organ weights between the two groups. Glomerular diameter correct ed for BSA was significantly greater in alcoholics than controls. It a ppears that nephromegaly and glomerulomegaly are both population marke rs for alcoholism. In alcoholics, there was no correlation between the microscopic degree of steatosis and glomerulomegaly. In controls, ren al glomerular diameter was greater with increasing severity of hepatic steatosis, probably as a reflection of obesity.