Gastroduodenal morphology and related symptoms in chronic alcoholics

Twenty-four chronic alcoholics admitted to hospital for detoxification after a drinking spree were examined by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Biopsy specimens were taken from corpus/fundus, antrum and duodenum for tissue histology (eosin stain). From the duodenum villus index and ultrastructure (scanning electron microscopy, SEM) were also performed. As a control group 12 subjectively healthy non-alcoholics referred to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy mainly for dyspepsia were chosen.Gastrointestinal symptoms were common in alcoholics (88%). Endoscopic and histological gastroduodenitis were not more common in the alcohol group. There was no correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic or histological gastroduodenitis in both groups. In the duodenum, 50% of the alcoholics and 82% in the control group had alterations by scanning electron microscopy. Ten of the 11 alcoholics with an abnormal ultrastructure had diarrhoea. In the control group dyspepsia (ulcus suspect) was correlated to a pathological SEM.