CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND DISEASE COURSE OF ALCOHOLICS WITH INACTIVE ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE-2

Inactive aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) is known as a genetic negati ve risk factor for the development of alcoholism. In alcoholics with i nactive ALDH2, unidentified factors that overcome the adverse reaction s of high blood acetaldehyde concentration after drinking may increase such persons' susceptibility to alcoholism. Comparison of clinical ch aracteristics, including sociofamilial backgrounds and psychopathologi es, failed to show significant differences between alcoholics with ina ctive ALDH2 (inactive group) and those with active ALDH2 (active group ), Examination of the temporal profile of disease development showed t hat the inactive group experienced each stage or event in the history of drinking and alcoholism 1 to 5 yeats later in life than the active group; however, not all comparisons reached statistically significant levels. Although preliminary, these results suggest that inactive ALDH 2-mediated delay in the occurrence of alcohol-related problems seems t o contribute to the suppression of alcoholism development.