Brain hydration during alcohol withdrawal in alcoholics measured by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Twenty-seven patients had a first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan 1–3 days after stopping drinking and a second approximately 2 weeks later with no change in whole brain T 1 or T 1 in selected brain areas. Six patients whose first scan was over 36 h after the last drink underwent an increase in whole brain T 1 in the interval to the second scan. The later the first scan was performed the greater was the increase in T 1 . These results are compatible with a very early fall in brain water immediately on cessation of drinking (perhaps due to a rebound increase of vasopressin activity) with a return to ‘baseline’ after two weeks. A third scan after discharge from hospital in 23 individuals who had abstained from alcohol or drank very little did not reveal any further significant change in brain T 1 .