[Follow-up of alcoholic patients in a hepatogastroenterology unit. Preliminary results (author's transl)].

Out of 126 alcoholic patients treated in a hepatogastroenrology unit, 55 were lost sight of after discharge, mainly because they lived far from the hospital, and 71 (56.3%) were followed up for a mean period of 10 months. Among the patients followed up, 11% showed clinical evidence, and 43.5% clinical and biochemical evidence (return to normal of mean corpuscular volume and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels) of having stopped taking alcohol. Forty-five p. cent resumed drinking habits. Is was found that those patients who were married, had a professional activity, social contacts and no serious mental disorders were more likely to be weaned. There were more patients with cirrhosis of the liver among those who discontinued alcohol than among those who kept drinking. The authors underline that these subjects are best treated by a team comprising clinicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and members of associations of former alcoholics.