Biomedical Variations in Familial and Non Familial Alcoholics

Abstract

Alcoholism is a multifactorial, polygenic disease. Alcohol dependence (alcoholism) is a common familial disorder that is leading cause of morbidity and premature death. The risk of alcoholism is higher among first degree relative of alcoholics (parents - children) as compared with the general population. Recently much attention has turned to analyze identifiable aspects of alcoholism and alcohol response. newlineIt is important to biology in that it suggests that chronic alcoholics may have a biological predisposition to alcoholism. It is important to psychology for the same reason as above and it provides information for psychologists to treat those with alcoholism. Alcoholism is at least twice as frequent in the sons of alcoholic fathers than in the sons of non-alcoholic fathers. Though environment may contribute to this higher incidence, family studies indicate an important role for genetic factors in alcoholism. People with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to begin drinking before the age of 20 and to become alcoholics. newlineHeavy long-term alcohol consumption clearly plays a major role in the development of alcohol-related liver disease. More than one-half of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. Genetic differences might explain why some heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis while others do not. Hence, the activity of liver enzymes Serum Glutamyl oxalo acetate Transaminase, Serum Glutamyl Pyruvate Transaminase, serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Serum and#947; glutamyl transferase were evaluated. Major efforts might be taken to elucidate the molecular basis of the genetic susceptibility towards alcoholism. The individual role of ADH2 gene subtypes and interaction with each other requires a great deal of future research. This raises the real possibility of treating alcoholics who are at high-risk to decrease the risk of transmission of alcoholism to next generation. However, can be evaluated in large family studies by analyzing multiple classes of relatives with different degree of genetic relatedness.