M. Manganaro et al., Correlation between a psychometric test and biochemical indices of hepaticencephalopathy in alcoholics, HEP-GASTRO, 47(32), 2000, pp. 455-460
Background/Aims: In alcohol abusers an alteration of responses to psychomet
ric tests has been reported, even when clinical symptoms of hepatic encepha
lopathy (HE) are absent. Our research was intended to individualize a simpl
e psychometric test, easy enough to be performed also at the patient's home
, able to reveal an impending encephalopathy and, consequently, to facilita
te earlier treatment.
Methodology: Twenty-six consecutive male alcoholics were engaged and, after
informed consent, the following schedule was applied: administration of a
psychometric test, followed by a drawing of blood for the determination of
many blood parameters. After 15 days of treatment to detoxicate patients, p
sychometric tests and blood examinations were repeated.
Result: The results confirmed that common blood examinations are not useful
to monitor brain damage in chronic alcoholism, that a psychometric test is
able to demonstrate a therapeutic improvement and that a positive and sign
ificant correlation has been observed between BBCA/AAA ratio and WAIS Score
.
Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that it is possible to suspe
ct dangerous biochemical changes by means of a simple psychometric test.