ARTERIAL-HYPERTENSION IN ALCOHOLICS WITH ABSTINENCE SYNDROME AND DELIRIUM

Arterial pressure, fear and anxiety affects, urinary excretion of cate cholamines and plasma renin activity, central hemodynamics were studie d in 134 subjects with alcoholic abstinence syndrome and delirium. The above syndrome and delirium were associated with arterial hypertensio n termed ''reactive''. Reactive hypertension declined 1-2 d: s after t he patients' getting out of the acute stage of the affects. It can be considered as a manifestation of stress-response in pathogenesis of wh ich an essential role may be played by plasma catecholamines and renin elevation. Hemodynamically, such hypertension is hyperkinetic with a tendency to high totalperipheral resistance. Correlations were not fou nd between the degree of the reactive hypertension and severity of the fear and anxiety affects. There was a weak correlation between the af fects and heart beat. Apart from reactive hypertension, alcoholism is a promotor of essential hypertension.