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Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2002;13(4): 575-577. |
| Hypotension Caused by a Disulfiram-Alcohol Reaction |
| Sang Lae Lee, Seok Yong Ryu, Hong Yong Kim |
| Department of Emergency Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea. sa058@hanafos.com |
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| ABSTRACT |
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Disulfiram, or antabuse, is used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism since it causes an unpleasant aversive reaction to alcohol. It works by inactivating hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase, leading to a pronounced rise in the acetaldehyde concentration when ethanol is metabolized.
Acetaldehyde causes alcohol sensitivity, which involves vasodilation associated with increased skin temperature, subjective feelings of hotness and facial flushing, increased heart and respiration rates, lowered blood pressure, a drymouth or throat sensation associated with bronchoconstriction and allergy reactions, nausea, and headache. One of its metabolites, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) can inhibit the enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) through copper chelation. This may account for the profound refractory hypotension seen with the disulfiram-ethanol reaction (DAR), resulting from norepinephrine depletion.
This report is presents the case of a patient we met, who presented with severe hypotension caused by the disulfiram-alcohol reaction, and along with a brief review of the subject. |
| Key words:
Disulfiram, Acetaldehyde, Alcohol |
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