ACUTE HEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF ETHANOL ON NORMAL HUMAN VOLUNTEERS

Data on the acute hemodynamic effects of alcohol in human subjects are conflicting. In the present study there was a significant increase in the cardiac output in the 10 young normal subjects 30 minutes after the ingestion of 6 oz. of 90 proof bourbon whiskey due to an increase in the heart rate without a change in stroke volume. The arterial pressure was unchanged. Left ventricular contractility ( dP dT) was unimpaired. Alcohol had no effect on the hemodynamic response to a work load of 100 watts for 5 minutes. These findings conflict with previous observations on middle-aged chronic alcoholics. The variability noted in these earlier observations may be due partly to the effect of age itself but more probably and importantly to subclinical cardiomyopathy in chronic alcoholics. © 1969.