Tabakoff B, Hoffman P L
NIAAA Intramural Research Program, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Public Health Rep. 1988 Nov-Dec;103(6):690-8.
Substantial scientific evidence has accumulated that both genetic and environmental factors predispose the development of alcoholism in certain individuals. Evidence has accumulated to indicate that alcoholism is a heterogeneous entity arising from multiple etiologies. The demonstrated role of genetics in increasing the risk of alcoholism has promoted the search for biological markers that could objectively identify individuals who are genetically predisposed to alcoholism. Identifying such markers could allow for early diagnosis, focused prevention, and differential and type-specific treatment of alcoholism. Promising markers have been provided by research in electrophysiology, endocrinology, and biochemistry. Recent advances in molecular genetics are offering prospects for direct analysis of the human genome to determine elements that provide predisposition to, and protection from, alcoholism. Recent advances in research and new knowledge gained by the alcoholism treatment community and the lay public are helping to diminish the societal damage caused by alcohol abuse and alcoholism and to change prevailing attitudes about them.
大量科学证据已积累起来，表明遗传和环境因素都使某些个体易患酒精中毒。已有证据表明，酒精中毒是一种由多种病因引起的异质性疾病。遗传学在增加酒精中毒风险方面所起的作用已促使人们寻找能够客观识别那些具有酒精中毒遗传易感性个体的生物标志物。识别出此类标志物将有助于酒精中毒的早期诊断、针对性预防以及差异化和特定类型的治疗。电生理学、内分泌学和生物化学领域的研究已提供了一些有前景的标志物。分子遗传学的最新进展为直接分析人类基因组以确定那些使人易患酒精中毒以及具有酒精中毒防护作用的因素提供了前景。酒精中毒治疗界和普通大众在研究方面取得的最新进展以及获得的新知识，正有助于减少酒精滥用和酒精中毒所造成的社会损害，并改变人们对它们的普遍态度。
