Alcohol-induced arterial hypertension and genetic polymorphism of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes

Aim. To study arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) in patients suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) with relation to genetic polymorphism of alcohol dehydrogenase-2 (ADG2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (AIDG2). Material and methods. AP and HR were analysed for 36 alcoholics (83 hospitalizations, including re peated ones) with genotypes ADG2 and AIDG2 at admission to and discharge from narcological hospital. Results. ADG2 genotypes distribution was the following: ADG2-1/1 - 61.1% (n = 22); ADG2-1/2 36.1% (n = 13); ADG2-2/2 - 28516 9n = 1). All the patients had a genotype AIDG2-111. A hypertensive reaction occurred in 75.9% inpatients with AWS. At admission, patients with genotype ADG2-1/1 had significantly higher systolic AP and HR vs those with allele ADG2-2: 146 +/- 17.0 mmHg against 141.2 +/- 14.9 mmHg, 95.6 +/- 13.9 b/min vs 88.5 +/- 12.2 b/min, respectively. In homozygous genotype ADG2-1/1 AP and HR were higher than in heterozygotes: SAP 152.3 +/- 12.9 min Hg vs 145.2 +/- 162 mm Hg, pulse pressure 57.2 +/- 11.9 vs 50.0 +/- 15.1 min Dg, HR 96.8 +/- 13.4 b/min vs 87.7 +/- 12.0 b/min. The groups had similar mean diastolic pressure. At discharge, AWS standard therapy resulted in a significant lowering of AP and HR in the study group. Mean values of the parameters in groups with different genotypes did not differe at discharge. Conclusion. Population of alcoholics from the Moscow Region had allele polymorphism ADG2. Genetic polymorphism AIDG2 is not typical for this group. Hypertensive reaction was registered in the majority of alcoholics in AWS. Higher systolic, pulse pressure and heart rate were significantly higher in the AWS group with genotype ADG2-1/1. Controlled alcohol withdrawal entails a significant reduction of AP and HR.