Das Alkoholentzugssyndrom: Delirium tremens und Krampfanfall Eine Übersicht über die Ätiopathogenese Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: Delirium Tremens and Seizure - An Overview

Introduction: Delirium tremens and withdrawal seizure are life-threatening complications of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. This review presents typical symptoms and risk factors based on patients' medical history for delirium tremens and withdrawal seizure as well as etiologically relevant neurobiological factors contributing to alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Scientists have tried to identify biomarkers including genetic polymorphisms for the occurrence of delirium and withdrawal seizure; the results of recent literature are outlined in this review. Methods: A systematic literature search using Pubmed was carried out to discover recent studies and review articles dealing with the topic of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Results: Neurobiological models based on an enhanced glutamatergic and reduced GABAergic neurotransmission are favoured to explain cerebral hyperexcitability. Serological and genetic risk factors for the formation of delirium tremens and withdrawal seizure have been identified. Genetic factors are mainly polymorphisms within can- didate genes involved in dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Conclusions: Recent findings from neurobiological research provide insights into the etiology of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and contribute to a better understanding of delirium tremens and withdrawal seizure.