ENDOCRINE FUNCTION IN ALCOHOLIC KORSAKOFFS-SYNDROME

Hypothalamic-pituitary function was studied by means of several dynami c endocrine tests in 19 patients with alcoholic Korsakoff s syndrome, 17 non-amnesic alcoholics and 21 non-alcoholic controls. The responses of thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormo ne, and luteinizing hormone to a combined thyrotropin releasing hormon e and gonadoliberin stimulation test did not differ significantly. For the dexamethasone suppression test, the Korsakoff patients had signif icantly higher basal serum cortisol and 08:00 hr post-dexamethasone co rtisol levels than non-alcoholic controls. These findings raise the po ssibility that chronically elevated cortisol levels may contribute to cognitive impairment in alcoholic Korsakoff s syndrome.