delirium tremens

In our study patients, alcohol withdrawal seizures (38%) was the most common neurological complication followed by acute hallucinosis (20%).

Now, study's boffins have revealed that the flow of calcium ions into brain cells via voltage-gated calcium channels plays an important role in the generation of alcohol withdrawal seizures, because blocking this flow suppresses these seizures.

He says many may have been misdiagnosed with the condition and might instead have suffered anxiety attacks, alcohol withdrawal seizures or psychogenic attacks (seizures with a mental, not a physical cause).

Background Alcohol withdrawal seizures are a common clinical problem in patients with chronic alcoholism, and are a leading cause of first seizures in adulthood.

However, a genetic predisposition to alcohol withdrawal seizures is possible.