Delirium tremens: A review

Delirium tremens was first identified as being due to long-term excessive alcohol intake in 1813, but is now known to be associated with abrupt withdrawal of alcohol in chronically habituated persons. Recent publications quote an anticipated mortality rate of 15% to 20%. Our experience in the past 2...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of Osteopathic Medicine (Online) Vol. 93; no. 9; p. 924
Main Authors Griffin, Richard E., Gross, George A., Teitelbaum, Howard S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Osteopathic Association 01.09.1993
Subjects
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium - complications
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium - diagnosis
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium - epidemiology
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium - therapy
Benzodiazepines - therapeutic use
Humans
Incidence
Prevalence
Water-Electrolyte Imbalance - etiology
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Summary:Delirium tremens was first identified as being due to long-term excessive alcohol intake in 1813, but is now known to be associated with abrupt withdrawal of alcohol in chronically habituated persons. Recent publications quote an anticipated mortality rate of 15% to 20%. Our experience in the past 20 years has not confirmed that rate. This review reveals that the prevalence of fatal cases is extremely low, with the true mortality close to 0%. We believe that this decrement is due to the increasing use of benzodiazepines to detoxify alcoholic patients. It is posstulated that the benzodiazepines act either to prevent delirium tremens or to reduce the neurotransmitter disruption in the central nervous system caused by excessive alcohol intake, or both.
ISSN:0098-6151
2702-3648
2702-3648
DOI:10.7556/jaoa.1993.93.9.924